Former Shaolin Temple abbot indicted for bribery and embezzlement

2026.03.20 13:20 Beyond embezzlement and bribery allegations, Shi Yongxin has also been accused of violating Buddhist principles, maintaining “improper relations” with multiple women and fathering at least one child. Photo: SCMP Prosecutors have formally indicted Shi Yongxin, the former abbot of the famed Shaolin Temple, four months after his arrest and following a string of financial and sexual scandals. Prosecutors in Xinxiang, Henan province, have formally charged Shi with embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, non-state official bribery and offering bribes, according to a Friday report from state news agency Xinhua. The 60-year-old former abbot led the Shaolin Temple for over 25 years and was ousted in July last year. The same month, the Buddhist Association of China revoked Shi’s Buddhist credentials, accusing him of “seriously undermining the reputation of the Buddhist community and the image of monks”. Companies linked to Shi were also deregistered. Following an investigation, local authorities announced in November the approval of his arrest on multiple criminal charges. The specific amount of money involved in the charges against Shi has not been disclosed. Beyond allegations of embezzlement and bribery, Shi was also accused of violating Buddhist principles, maintaining “improper relations” with multiple women and fathering at least one child. Shi, who holds a degree in business administration, turned Shaolin Temple into a multibillion-dollar global brand with business interests including real estate and entertainment, earning him the nickname “CEO monk”. He joined the temple in 1981 and became its abbot in 1999, at the age of 34. Despite facing criticism over the commercialisation of Shaolin Temple, Shi justified his approach as necessary for protecting the monastic institution established more than 1,500 years ago. The temple, a Unesco World Heritage site, is recognised as the cradle of Shaolin kung fu. Shi’s downfall has dealt a major blow to the reput

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