Shaolin Temple abbot under investigation for criminal offenses, polygamy and having children?

Chinese and international public opinion is abuzz with the news that the abbot of Shaolin Temple is being investigated by multiple agencies. He is accused of a series of serious crimes.

Shocking allegations and unusual silence

According to an official announcement from the Shaolin Temple Management Board on the evening of July 27, Mr. Shi Yongxin is being investigated for "suspicion of criminal offenses, embezzlement and appropriation of project assets and temple assets." More seriously, he is also accused of "seriously violating Buddhist precepts, maintaining long-term illicit relationships with many women and having children out of wedlock."

These allegations are not new. In 2015, Thich Vinh Tin was also involved in a similar scandal when a self-proclaimed disciple accused him of having an illegitimate child and appropriating property. However, the authorities later denied this information, saying that he did not have any illegitimate children.

Notably, Shi Yongxin’s Weibo account, which was very active, has been inactive since the post on the morning of July 24. The Economic Observer reported that he was taken away by police in Xinxiang, Henan, on July 25, after serving as Shaolin Temple’s manager for 38 years. His unusual silence on social media has reinforced the rumors that have been circulating.

This incident is causing a wave of anger in the Buddhist community and those who love Shaolin Temple. It raises questions about the morality of a famous temple leader and about the future of Shaolin Temple, whether it will continue on the path of commercialization or return to traditional values?

A commercial empire built on Buddhist foundations

Shi Yongxin, whose secular name is Liu Yingcheng, was born in 1965 and became a monk at Shaolin Temple in 1981. In 1999, he officially became the 30th abbot of this thousand-year-old temple. Since then, he has been known as the "elite monk" or "CEO of Shaolin Temple" thanks to his sharp business thinking.

Mr. Shi Yongxin transformed Shaolin Temple from an ancient temple into a global brand. He systematized its cultural resources, organized martial arts manuals, and founded the Shaolin Kung Fu Research Association. Under his leadership, Shaolin Temple registered more than 700 trademarks and invested in at least 18 companies, doing business in everything from Zen tea, vegetarian cakes, book publishing, game development, to "opening" phone numbers for auction.

In 2017, Shaolin Temple welcomed more than 3.5 million visitors, earning more than 350 million NDT (nearly 1.2 trillion VND) in ticket revenue, not to mention huge donations.

However, this commercialization has caused a lot of controversy. The image of an abbot driving a luxury Audi Q7, wearing expensive robes and wearing luxurious rosary beads has gone against the Buddhist spirit of "purity of mind and desire", making many people skeptical about his morality.

What future for Shaolin Temple?

Shaolin Temple, founded in 495, is the cradle of Zen Buddhism and Chinese martial arts, one of the most prominent cultural symbols of the country of a billion people. This temple is also an endless source of inspiration for many famous martial arts movies and novels. Therefore, the scandal involving the abbot Thich Vinh Tin caused a great shock.

The incident could usher in a major overhaul at Shaolin Temple. Authorities may tighten control over the temple’s business and financial operations, while the Buddhist community may demand greater transparency and accountability from its leaders.

Shi Yongxin has succeeded in bringing Shaolin Temple to the world, but at the same time, he has also dragged this temple into a secular vortex. This scandal may be a wake-up call for the balance between preserving cultural and religious values and commercialization.

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