Breaking News: Shaolin Temple Abbot Shi Yongxin under Investigation
The news of the investigation into Shi Yongxin, the abbot of the Shaolin Temple, was confirmed yesterday, July 27th. Reports state that he was arrested late on the 25th. Prior to this, around the Chinese New Year period, he was restricted from leaving the country upon his return from an overseas visit. Shi Yongxin’s investigation has once again brought into question the ownership and management rights of the Shaolin Temple’s assets, with some analysts suggesting his involvement in sharing profits unequally with the Chinese Communist Party.
On the night of July 27th, the Shaolin Temple management issued a notice stating that the abbot, Shi Yongxin, is suspected of criminal activities, including embezzlement of project funds and temple assets, gross violations of Buddhist precepts, sustaining inappropriate relationships with multiple women, and fathering illegitimate children.
Sources close to the Shaolin Temple disclosed to Caixin that Shi Yongxin was “summoned” late on the night of July 25th. The following day, rumors about Shi Yongxin’s investigation began to spread.
The informant revealed that upon his return from an overseas visit around the Chinese New Year, Shi Yongxin was immediately restricted from leaving the country and subjected to official interrogations, although he still had some freedom of movement within the country. By May, local government officials had stationed representatives in Shaolin under the guise of the temple management, with members mainly from the religious bureau and united front departments of Zhengzhou and Dengfeng cities.
Shi Yongxin, born Liu Yingcheng on September 6, 1965 in Anhui Province, took his vows at the Shaolin Temple in 1981 and began participating in temple decision-making in 1987. He became the abbot of the Shaolin Temple on Mount Song in 1999.
Shi Yongxin has long overseen the commercial operations of the Shaolin Temple, reportedly generating annual revenue exceeding two billion yuan.
As early as 2015, Shi Yongxin had been accused of accepting large sums of money and leading a morally compromised personal life. Despite an official investigation in 2017 concluding “insufficient evidence,” rumors regarding his foreign assets and scandals continued to persist, subjecting him to ongoing public scrutiny.
Shi Yongxin currently serves as the vice president of the China Buddhist Association and president of the Henan Provincial Buddhist Association, and has been a member of several National People’s Congresses. Within the existing system, abbots like Shi Yongxin, often referred to as “political monks,” enjoy privileges within the CCP hierarchy, leading to broader implications when personal issues arise.
Caixin noted that the issues raised in the recent Shaolin Temple management notice, such as embezzlement of project funds and temple assets, flagrant violations of Buddhist precepts, and engaging in inappropriate relationships resulting in illegitimate offspring, mirror decade-old allegations that have now escalated from private reports to official announcements.
The dispatch of government officials to Shaolin under the temple management’s name has sparked concerns.
In the past decade, disputes over matters like admission fees for the Shaolin Temple, ownership of the temple, and trademark rights have persisted, with the opening of the five-star Zhongzhou International Shaolin Grand Hotel in 2023 becoming a recent point of contention.
Shi Yongxin has consistently advocated for the transformation of the temple into an independent legal entity to align with the interests of the Shaolin Temple.
In addition to the damaging scandal of his personal misconduct, Shi Yongxin’s investigation has once again cast doubt on the ownership and management rights of the Shaolin Temple.
Commentator Li Linyi pointed out that the investigation into Shi Yongxin, as suggested by Caixin, likely stems from the CCP’s interest in the significant wealth accumulated by Shi Yongxin through exploiting the Shaolin Temple for financial gain, especially amid China’s economic downturn, where temples have attracted government officials vying for a share of the lucrative profits. Inequitable distribution of gains could be a contributing factor to Shi Yongxin’s downfall. The corruption allegations and scandals surrounding Shi Yongxin over the past decade persisted due to his ability to offer benefits, allowing officials to turn a blind eye.
It is worth noting that Shi Yongxin was allegedly restricted from leaving the country upon his return from an overseas visit around the Chinese New Year. Furthermore, as a representative of the CCP participating in the UN Climate Conference (COP29) in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22 last year, Shi Yongxin addressed the assembly on November 15, emphasizing the importance of personal responsibility in combating climate change and the dangers of unchecked desires.
While his words were well-intentioned, they failed to resonate with many listeners. Criticism of Shi Yongxin’s speech on social media abounded, with comments like “This big monk is not simple,” “Does this exceed his scope of duties?,” “Who paid for his travel expenses?,” “This bloated fake monk,” “He has once again embarrassed us,” and “Going to the UN to deceive people.”
Newline.