The former abbot of the Shaolin Temple, Shi Yongxin, has been arrested on suspicion of embezzlement, misappropriation of funds and accepting bribes, authorities said. Removed and disrobed in July, Shi earned the nickname the "CEO monk" after founding numerous companies overseas, drawing criticism for commercialising Buddhism. Former monks accused him of diverting temple funds and other misconduct; China’s Buddhist Association said his actions damaged the community’s reputation.
Former Shaolin Abbot Shi Yongxin Arrested on Suspicion of Embezzlement — 'CEO Monk' Under Probe
The former abbot of the Shaolin Temple, Shi Yongxin, has been arrested on suspicion of embezzlement, misappropriation of funds and accepting bribes, authorities said. Removed and disrobed in July, Shi earned the nickname the "CEO monk" after founding numerous companies overseas, drawing criticism for commercialising Buddhism. Former monks accused him of diverting temple funds and other misconduct; China’s Buddhist Association said his actions damaged the community’s reputation.
02:15 PM, 11/16/2025Culture
Former Shaolin Abbot Arrested in Financial Misconduct Investigation
The former head of the Shaolin Temple, widely regarded as the birthplace of kung fu, has been arrested on suspicion of embezzlement and other financial crimes, local authorities said.
Shi Yongxin, 60, was removed from his position in July and disrobed after authorities described his behaviour as "extremely" bad and launched an investigation into allegations that he misappropriated project funds and temple assets. The Xinxiang Procuratorate in central Henan province said it approved Shi's arrest on suspicion of "embezzlement, misappropriating funds and accepting bribes as a non-state employee."
Shi became abbot in 1999 and spent decades promoting Shaolin studies and cultural programs abroad. He earned the nickname the "CEO monk" after establishing numerous companies overseas, a development that drew criticism for the commercialisation of Buddhism.
Former monks and other critics accused Shi of diverting funds from a temple-run company, maintaining a fleet of luxury vehicles and fathering children with multiple women — allegations that helped trigger the cancellation of his ordination certificate by China’s Buddhist Association in July.
"Shi Yongxin's actions are of an extremely bad nature, seriously undermining the reputation of the Buddhist community, hurting the image of monks," the Buddhist Association of China said in a statement.
Founded in AD 495, the Shaolin Temple is famed as a historic centre of Zen Buddhism and Chinese martial arts. The investigation and arrest come amid wider scrutiny of how religious organizations manage assets and balance spiritual roles with commercial activities.