CHINA

Former Shaolin Temple Abbot Shi Yongxin Indicted on Bribery, Embezzlement

Published: Mar. 20, 2026 10:34 p.m. GMT+8

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Shi Yongxin. Photo: IC

Shi Yongxin, the former abbot of China’s famed Shaolin Temple, has been indicted on multiple criminal charges including bribery and misappropriation, about six months after the controversial monk came under investigation.

On Friday, prosecutors in Xinxiang city, Henan province, indicted Shi — born Liu Yingcheng — on charges of corporate extortion, misappropriation of funds, accepting bribes as a non-state worker, and offering bribes, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

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Shi Yongxin, former Shaolin Temple abbot, was indicted in June 2025 on charges including bribery, misappropriation, and corporate extortion after a July 2025 probe.
Shi commercialized the Shaolin Temple, expanding its global brand and transforming it into a multimillion-dollar enterprise.
His religious credentials were revoked and he was removed as abbot following allegations of criminal offenses and policy violations.

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What Happened When

1981：: Shi Yongxin was ordained at the Shaolin Temple.

1999：: Shi Yongxin was installed as the 30th abbot of Shaolin Temple.

2015：: Shi faced accusations of misconduct and embezzlement and was cleared by a government investigation.

July 2025：: Shaolin Temple’s management office announced Shi was under investigation for criminal offenses, serious violations of Buddhist precepts, and improper relationships.