Faith, Greed, and Power: The Unraveling of the Shaolin Kingdom

Shi Yongxin, known as the “CEO Monk,” was the abbot who revitalized the Shaolin Temple, transforming it from a neglected monastery into a lucrative conglomerate with interests in tourism, real estate, medicine, and more. Despite his success, Shi faced longstanding criticism for allegedly prioritizing commercialism over Buddhist principles, accusations that culminated in his recent downfall. In July 2025, the newly established Shaolin Temple Management Office announced that Shi was under criminal investigation for embezzling temple assets and for serious disciplinary violations, notably maintaining relationships with several women and fathering children, in direct contradiction to monastic rules. His spiritual legitimacy was swiftly revoked by the Buddhist Association of China, effectively excommunicating him after 25 years of leadership and raising questions about the future of the Shaolin Temple’s business empire [para. 1][para. 2][para. 3][para. 4].

Shi’s journey began in 1981, arriving at the temple in search of martial arts, not enlightenment. The monastery was then a shadow of its legendary past, decimated by years of upheaval and neglect, with only a handful of monks subsisting on meager rations. Shi and his mentor, Abbot Xingzheng, fought bureaucratic battles to restore the temple’s authority and finances throughout the 1980s. Their efforts bore fruit in 1984 when the temple regained control of ticket revenues, leading to a period of stabilization and revival. Shi assumed increasing leadership, ultimately surviving internal power struggles following his master’s death, and adopted an outward-facing, enterprising approach [para. 5][para. 6][para. 7][para. 8][para. 9][para. 10][para. 11][para. 12][para. 13][para. 14].

Shi’s defining strategy was to harness the Shaolin brand and export Zen and kung fu globally. He established the Shaolin Warrior Monk Troupe, orchestrated international tours, and leveraged major anniversaries—such as the temple’s 1,500th—in grand fashion, solidifying his authority. Concurrently, he elevated his political stature, serving as a National People’s Congress delegate and as the president of the Henan Buddhist Association. By 1999, at just 34, he was formally named the 30th abbot, positioning the monastery as a globally recognized institution [para. 15][para. 16][para. 17][para. 18][para. 19][para. 20].

Under Shi’s leadership, Shaolin rapidly diversified its commercial interests, registering trademarks, founding media and pharmaceutical companies, and venturing into international projects, like the ambitious $2.34 million (AUD 360 million) complex in Australia. In 2022, the temple also entered real estate, though Shi later ceded full ownership of the core asset management firm to the monastery itself. Shi acknowledged the difficulties religious organizations face in balancing legal and ethical boundaries between spiritual and commercial operations, a regulatory gray area not resolved until 2017 [para. 21][para. 22][para. 23][para. 24][para. 25][para. 26][para. 27][para. 28][para. 29].

Shi’s empire was rife with controversy, encountering fierce opposition from displaced locals, government entities, and former disciples. Three major crises defined his tenure: mass protests over asset reclamation, a government-driven attempt to privatize temple tourism, and a 2015 whistleblowing scandal with personal and financial allegations. Though a 2017 investigation largely cleared him, it spotlighted management shortcomings and left lasting damage to his reputation. Shi’s struggle for financial autonomy led to repeated confrontations with local officials and broader debates about the commercial exploitation of religious sites [para. 30][para. 31][para. 32][para. 33][para. 34][para. 35][para. 36][para. 37][para. 38][para. 39][para. 40][para. 41][para. 42][para. 43][para. 44][para. 45][para. 46][para. 47].

With Shi’s removal and ongoing investigations, the future of both the temple’s spiritual leadership and its vast assets is highly uncertain. The episode has forced a state-led reassertion of control over one of China’s most iconic religious and commercial institutions [para. 48][para. 49][para. 50][para. 51][para. 52].