Shaolin Temple abbot Shi Yongxin has recently been the subject of a joint investigation by multiple Chinese government agencies, sparking widespread concern. On the evening of July 27th, the Shaolin Temple Administration Office issued a notice confirming that abbot Shi Yongxin was under investigation for suspected criminal offenses. The following day, the Buddhist Association of China announced the revocation of Shi Yongxin's ordination certificate, expressing its "firm support for legal action." This marked the end of the reigns of this religious figure, who once spearheaded the "Shaolin branding" movement. On the 29th, the Shaolin Temple Administration Office announced the appointment of Master Yinle, formerly abbot of the White Horse Temple, as the new abbot of the temple.
Official reports indicate that Shi Yongxin is suspected of embezzling and misappropriating funds and assets for temple projects. He is also accused of maintaining illicit relationships with multiple women and fathering illegitimate children, seriously violating Buddhist precepts. Multiple media outlets have confirmed that Shi Yongxin was taken into custody by Xinxiang police in Henan Province around July 25th, with Xinxiang authorities taking the lead in handling the case.
On July 28th, the Buddhist Association of China issued a statement stating that it had recently received a request from the Henan Provincial Buddhist Association to revoke the ordination certificate of Shi Yongxin. After consideration, the association agreed to the cancellation and supported the legal investigation and handling of the case. Some netizens commented, "What was the Buddhist Association doing before? Are they trying to save him now?" Others sarcastically said, "Shaolin Temple has become an ATM for pilgrims. Now that infrastructure funding is needed, it's naturally the temple's turn to take action."
A "precept certificate" is a certificate of ordination received by Buddhist monks after they have been ordained. In China, precept certificates are issued uniformly by the Buddhist Association of China.
Public information shows that Shi Yongxin, whose secular name is Liu Yingcheng, was born in 1965 and has been the head of Shaolin Temple since 1987, a period of 38 years. He has served as vice president of the Buddhist Association of China, chairman of the Henan Buddhist Association, and a deputy to the National People's Congress. He has been active in political, business, and religious circles, earning him the nickname "the CEO in a monk's robe."
The reality of the situation is completely different now that the report was made ten years ago.
Independent sociologist Song Chuyang (pseudonym) told this station on Monday (28th) that Shi Yongxin's problems were reported by a real-name source as early as 2015, with allegations highly consistent with the official disclosures. The investigation was dropped due to "lack of evidence." He analyzed that the biggest difference between this investigation and a decade ago lies in the current political and fiscal environment: "Before, the central government was willing to support cultural icons like the Shaolin Temple. Now, with local finances strained, temples continue to attract visitors and generate substantial revenue, making them a natural target."
He believes that religious leaders like Shi Yongxin, who have a solid position and strong external relations capabilities, were "hard to touch" in the past, but once the tide turns, they will become a breakthrough point for rectification: "This time, the Shaolin Temple is being targeted, which means that 'Shi Yongxins' in other places may also be purged. I think the local government will make a profit from this and breathe a sigh of relief financially."
Business empires are being purged, and the authority of the Buddhist order is facing a reshaping.
Shi Yongxin has long promoted the Shaolin Temple brand. According to Caixin, the temple has 666 registered trademarks, including "Zen Tea," "Kung Fu Mobile Games," and "Shaolin Medicinal Cuisine." He has also spearheaded the establishment of companies involved in the cultural, catering, and pharmaceutical sectors. The temple conservatively estimates annual revenue at over 1 billion RMB, but its financial status has long been kept secret. The temple has even established over 40 "Shaolin Cultural Centers" overseas.
Mr. Zhou, a writer from Chengdu, told this station that the Shi Yongxin case is not only about the downfall of an individual, but also symbolizes that the long-standing triangle between religion, power, and capital is facing re-examination: "Once religious organizations intervene in the capital market, they are inevitably involved in complex interests and management issues. This incident is likely to be an institutional questioning of the current religious operating model."
The incident also sparked widespread ridicule and mockery online. Some, referencing Jin Yong's novels, quipped, "The last time a Shaolin Temple abbot got into trouble was during the Northern Song Dynasty, during the reign of Master Xuan Ci." Another joked, "Xu Zhu's background is much cleaner." Social media also resurfaced rumors about the "hereditary nature of religion," with rumors that Shi Yongxin intended to replace Shi Zhengen as abbot. Although this was later denied, concerns about transparency within religious organizations remain.
Currently, the Shaolin Temple's official WeChat account has deleted any content related to Shi Yongxin. According to sources familiar with the matter, Shi Yongxin had been restricted from leaving the country before the Spring Festival, and local supervisory personnel have recently been stationed at the temple, with temple affairs temporarily under the control of religious and United Front organizations.
Policy direction becomes key, and calls for institutional reform are resurfacing
Shi Zhaohui, founder of Taiwan's Hongshi Buddhist Academy, stated that this is a clear scandal involving Buddhist violations of precepts. Why has Buddhism been shielding these cases for so many years? Shi Zhaohui believes that male chauvinism is the root cause of sex scandals within Buddhism. Due to gender power imbalances, women are relegated to second-class status, and therefore must maintain a submissive attitude to gain a foothold in Buddhism.
Shi Zhaohui believes that women rationalize the need to submit to men, and that male sexual scandals are often driven not only by uncontrollable sexual desire but also by a desire to control women. For them, women are controllable and free of charge. Shi Zhaohui stated that in Buddhism, the desire to control others is demonic, and this is fostered by Buddhist institutions.
Scholar Zhou believes that following the Shi Yongxin incident, the public is more concerned about whether institutional reforms will be pursued, such as promoting the legalization of temples, financial transparency, and monastic governance. He told this station, "If this case remains at the level of individual cases, institutional risks will remain. However, if this case becomes a starting point for reform, perhaps the governance of religious organizations will be more aligned with modern society's expectations of credibility."
As of press time, the investigation is still ongoing and the authorities have not yet released further details.
