Disgraced Shaolin Temple abbot Shi Yongxin closer to prosecution over money scandals
Famed ‘CEO monk’ of kung fu cradle was removed in July over allegations including embezzlement and ‘seriously violating’ Buddhist principles
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Mainland China | Shi Yinle | Shi Yongxin | Shaolin Temple
Published: 5:02pm, 16 Nov 2025
Local authorities have formally approved the arrest of the former head of China’s famous Shaolin Temple, four months after he was placed under criminal investigation for alleged financial and sex scandals.
Shi Yongxin’s arrest had been approved “on suspicion of embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, and accepting bribes as a non-state functionary”, the Xinxiang Procuratorate announced in a statement on Sunday.
Xinxiang, in China’s central Henan province, is about two hours’ drive from the county-level city of Dengfeng, where the Shaolin Temple is located.
Shi, 60, served as abbot of what is one of the world’s most famous Buddhist monasteries for more than 25 years before being removed in July over a series of allegations, including misappropriation and embezzlement of project funds and temple assets.
He was also accused of “seriously violating” Buddhist principles, maintaining “improper relations” with multiple women and fathering at least one child.
Sunday’s statement said Xinxiang authorities, who had launched the investigation under the direction of the Henan provincial public security department, had requested the local prosecutorial body to approve his arrest.
Shi’s Buddhist credentials were revoked by the Buddhist Association of China when the scandal broke in July. The association accused him of “seriously undermining the reputation of the Buddhist community and the image of monks”. Companies linked to Shi were also deregistered.
Shi, who holds a degree in business administration, joined the temple in 1981 and became its abbot in 1999 – aged 34. He turned Shaolin into a multibillion-dollar global brand, which earned him the nickname of the “CEO monk”.
While his excessive commercialisation of Shaolin’s heritage and influence also drew criticism, Shi defended the approach as necessary to protect the legacy of the centuries-old temple.
Head of China’s world-famous Buddhist sanctuary Shaolin Temple under criminal inquiry
Allegations regarding Shi’s controversial personal life had surfaced from time to time over the years. In 2015, some former monks accused him of embezzlement as well as fathering several children – despite Buddhist monks taking a vow of celibacy – but an official investigation ultimately cleared him.
The abbot of Henan’s White Horse Temple, Shi Yinle, was appointed abbot of Shaolin just two days after the monastery announced that Shi was under investigation.
Established over 1,500 years ago, the Shaolin Temple is revered as the birthplace of Zen Buddhism, and a Unesco World Heritage site famed as the cradle of Shaolin kung fu.
Every year, tens of thousands of students attend the martial arts schools in Dengfeng and summer kung fu camps regularly attract both Chinese and foreign enthusiasts.
Meredith Chen joined the Post in 2023 and covers China politics and diplomacy. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Hong Kong. Previously, she had stints with both international and Chinese-language media outlets, focusing on affairs in Asia.
Not much of an update - more of a summary.