【Epoch Times, May 29, 2026】(Compiled by Tang Bing) Former abbot of Shaolin Temple in Henan Province, China, Shi Yongxin has been sentenced to 24 years in prison in the first instance, with an official announcement of involvement in nearly 300 million yuan worth of cases. Netizens have expressed that the sentence is too light and questioned who is behind his protection.
The state-run Chinese media People’s Daily reported that on May 29, in the first instance of the Intermediate People’s Court of Xinxiang City, Henan Province, Liu Yingcheng (formerly known as Shi Yongxin) was sentenced for duty embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, non-state staff bribery, and bribery, with multiple crimes combined, and sentenced to 24 years in prison, and a fine of 3.5 million yuan (RMB).
The court pointed out that Liu Yingcheng took advantage of his positions as abbot of Shaolin Temple and president of the Shaolin Charity and Welfare Foundation. From 2003 to 2025, he illegally embezzled more than 131 million yuan alone or in collusion with others; from 2012 to 2022, he misappropriated more than 151 million yuan of unit funds for personal use, without returning it for over three months; and since July 2006, he illegally received more than 11.63 million yuan equivalent in property from others for assistance in the construction projects and related operational activities of Shaolin Temple. From 1995 to 2022, Liu Yingcheng gave a total of more than 5.67 million yuan in property to state staff to seek improper benefits.
The court stated that Liu Yingcheng was involved in crimes of duty embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, non-state staff bribery, and bribery. His “duty embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, non-state staff bribery all involve particularly huge amounts, with extremely serious bribery and bribery situations, long duration of criminal acts, severe consequences, and negative social impacts, which should be severely punished according to the law.” However, Liu Yingcheng “truthfully confessed his crimes upon being arrested, voluntarily revealed criminal facts that the investigating authorities had not yet discovered, pleaded guilty and repented,” hence he was sentenced to 24 years in prison and fined 3.5 million yuan. Liu Yingcheng expressed acceptance of the judgement in court and did not appeal.
Regarding this, netizens expressed, “The penalty is just a drop in the bucket. A 24-year sentence is too light.” “Too light, at least fifty years so he won’t come out.” “The results of the investigation ten years ago have stood the test because the one reported and investigated ten years ago was Shi Yongxin, and today the one who pleaded guilty and did not appeal is Liu Yingcheng.” “The protective umbrella is not mentioned.” “Too light, why can’t he be put to death? Can’t he be sentenced to death?” “How many people did he protect? They might find a way to get him out.” “Will there be a reduction in sentence?”
Previously, the Henan Provincial Xinxiang City Prosecutor’s Office of the Chinese Communist Party announced on March 20 that former abbot of Shaolin Temple, Shi Yongxin, had been prosecuted. Shi Yongxin was charged with duty embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, non-state staff bribery, and bribery, adding a bribery charge compared to when he was arrested last year.
Shi Yongxin became a monk at Shaolin Temple at the age of 16 and studied under the then abbot, Abbot Xingzheng. In 1987, 22-year-old Shi Yongxin was appointed as the director of the Shaolin Temple’s management committee, overseeing the affairs of the temple. In 1999, Shi Yongxin took over as Shaolin Temple’s abbot until his downfall last year, serving for 26 years.
Shi Yongxin rose to prominence due to his promotion of the commercialization of Shaolin Temple, earning him the nickname “Shaolin CEO.” As early as 2015, six former disciples of Shi Yongxin, including Shi Yanlu, had openly accused him of embezzling Shaolin Temple’s assets, tarnishing the reputation of Shaolin Temple, having multiple female partners, and having illegitimate children, among other accusations. However, official reports at the time denied any issues with Shi Yongxin.
Last July, Shi Yongxin was investigated, and the Shaolin Temple management reported that he was suspected of criminal activities, such as misappropriating project funds and temple assets; serious violations of Buddhist precepts including having improper relationships with multiple women and fathering illegitimate children, details of which caused a stir in public opinion.
Shi Yongxin was also referred to as a “political monk,” having served as a representative of the Chinese Communist Party’s National People’s Congress in 2020, as well as being the president of the Henan Buddhist Association and vice president of the Chinese Buddhist Association.
Shi Yongxin had already been accused by fellow monks many years ago of maintaining mistresses and fathering illegitimate children, as well as massively embezzling assets of Shaolin Temple. However, it was eventually brushed under the rug. Last July, the authorities suddenly announced Shi Yongxin’s downfall. The official charges were consistent with the previous accusations. Public opinion analysis says that Shi Yongxin’s downfall was not due to so-called “anti-corruption,” but because his backer fell.
China expert Henghe had previously told Epoch Times that the first person to support Shi Yongxin was Jiang faction’s former Standing Committee member Li Changchun. Shi Yongxin went through three generations of Chinese Communist Party leaders Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, and Xi Jinping, and was like a fish in water with all of them, especially with his commercial empire, likely having the support of each Standing Committee member in every term, and even possibly all three Party leaders as his backstage supporters.