Former Shaolin Temple Abbot Shi Yongxin has been sentenced to 24 years in prison and fined 3.5 million yuan (approximately $517,000) after being convicted of crimes including embezzlement and bribery.
Shi, 60, was formally charged in March after being placed under investigation in July last year.
A court in Henan Province, central China, ruled that Shi abused his position as abbot of the renowned Shaolin Temple to embezzle funds, misappropriate assets, and engage in bribery. According to the court, the offences involved nearly 300 million yuan and spanned almost three decades.
State media reported that Shi pleaded guilty to the charges and informed the court that he would not appeal the verdict.
The Shaolin Temple, widely regarded as the birthplace of kung fu, announced in July last year that its head monk was under investigation by multiple agencies for suspected criminal offences, including embezzlement and violations of Buddhist precepts. Authorities also accused him of maintaining improper relationships with multiple women over an extended period.
Following the launch of the investigation, the Buddhist Association of China revoked Shi’s monastic certificate.
Reacting to the sentencing, the association said in a statement on Friday, July 29, that Shi’s punishment was the result of his own actions, stating that “he brought it on himself.”
Born Liu Yingcheng, Shi entered monastic life in 1981. He assumed leadership of the Shaolin Temple in 1987 and was officially appointed abbot in 1999, a position he held until the investigation led to his downfall.
