Shi Yongxin

Shi Yongxin
释永信
Shi Yongxin in 2024
TitleChan master
Personal life
Born
Liu Yingcheng (刘应成)

Yingshang County, Anhui, China
Religious life
ReligionBuddhism
SchoolChan Buddhism

Shi Yongxin (simplified Chinese: 释永信; traditional Chinese: 釋永信; pinyin: Shì Yǒngxìn), born Liu Yingcheng (simplified Chinese: 刘应成; traditional Chinese: 劉應成; pinyin: Liú Yìngchéng), is a Chinese Buddhist monk who served as abbot of the Shaolin Temple from 1999 to 2025. He is known for his role in commercializing the temple and for controversies surrounding his personal life.

Biography

Shi was born in Yingshang County, Anhui, China. At the request of his parents, he entered monastic life at the Shaolin Temple at the age of 16 and received full ordination in 1984. At 22, following studies at various Buddhist colleges, he was designated successor to the abbacy of Shaolin Temple. A Dharma assembly was held at the temple from 19 to 20 August 1999, to mark his inauguration as abbot. Shi has served as Chairman of the Henan Province Buddhist Association, Vice-chairman of the Buddhist Association of China, and a delegate to the Ninth through Twelfth sessions of the National People's Congress. His responsibilities were both scholarly and ecclesiastical, including presiding over major ceremonies at the Shaolin Temple.[1]

Controversies

Commercialization of the Shaolin Temple

Shi has drawn controversy for commercializing the Shaolin Temple and managing it like a business, earning him the nickname "CEO Monk."[2] He has been criticized for accepting lavish gifts[3][4][5], promoting the temple through paid advertisements, and implementing fees for admission and incense burning. Additionally, in 2001, he faced criticism for approving the demolition of the surrounding village to support the temple's bid for UNESCO World Heritage status.[6] In November 2009, the official website of the Shaolin Temple was hacked twice. In the first incident, a calligraphic message reading "Shaolin evildoer Shi Yongxin, go to hell" was posted.[7] In the second, hackers uploaded a letter purportedly written by Shi Yongxin, in which he appeared to apologize for leading a materialistic lifestyle and commercializing the temple.[8][9][10] The Shaolin Temple attracts an estimated 3 to 5 million visitors annually, generating over 300 million RMB each year from entrance fees and incense offerings alone. As of 2023, Shi Yongxin controls 18 companies. The temple has registered more than 700 trademarks across categories such as food, lodging, and jewelry. Shaolin cultural centers operate in over 50 countries and regions worldwide, with a global following of more than 3 million international disciples.[11][12]

Shi has defended his actions by arguing that commercialization is a modern means to promote and preserve traditional Shaolin culture: "Commercialization or industrialization, whatever term you use it, is a path leading up to the truth of Zen. My vision is that Shaolin will eventually become a source of consolidating Chinese people's confidence and wisdom."[13]

Criminal allegations

In 2011, a rumor alleging that Shi had been arrested for soliciting prostitution circulated widely online. On 8 May of that year, the Shaolin Temple filed a report with local authorities, requesting an investigation into the allegedly defamatory claims.[14][15]

On 26 July 2015, an anonymous post titled "Shaolin Abbot Shi Yongxin, This Big Tiger—Who Will Supervise?" surfaced online. The author, with the pseudonym "Shi Zhengyi," accused the abbot of holding dual household registrations (hukou) and government identifications, and having been excommunicated twice for theft by previous abbots Xingzheng in 1987 and Dechan in 1988—actions approved by the Buddhist Association of China in 1988—thereby rendering his succession to the abbacy illegitimate. The post also alleged that Shi raped a Buddhist nun, maintained multiple mistresses, and had fathered two daughters: Liu Mengya, with Guan Lili in the early 1990s, and Han Jia'en (b. 2009), with a nun named Shi Yanjie (born Han Mingjun). The Shaolin Temple denied the allegations the following day. On 30 July, a joint statement of 29 Shaolin monks alleged that the anonymous poster "Shi Zhengyi" was Shi Yanlu, the former head of the temple's martial monks. While Shi Yanlu denied being the author of the online post, he publicly supported its contents. Shi Yongxin was scheduled to lead a delegation to Thailand on 2 August, but his trip was canceled due to an ongoing investigation launched by the Dengfeng Religious Affairs Bureau. On 8 August, Shi Yanlu and five associates formally submitted a written report to the National Religious Affairs Administration, largely reiterating the online allegations. The case was subsequently referred to the Henan Religious Affairs Bureau, which concluded in November 2015 that the accusations were unfounded.[16][17]

On 27 July 2025, the Shaolin Temple announced that Shi Yongxin was under investigation for alleged criminal misconduct, including the embezzlement and misappropriation of temple funds and assets. He was also accused of serious violations of Buddhist monastic discipline, including maintaining improper relationships with multiple women and fathering illegitimate children. The following day, the Buddhist Association of China announced the revocation of his monastic credentials upon recommendation of the Henan Provincial Buddhist Association.[18] On 29 July, Shi Yinle was transferred from his post as abbot of the White Horse Temple to replace Shi Yongxin at the Shaolin Temple.[19]

References

  1. ^ Shaolin Abbot Shi yong xin-Shaolin Temple kung fu school China Archived 13 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ ['CEO monk' set to franchise Kung Fu Shaolin shrine]
  3. ^ Shaolin Kung-fu Monks vs 'Old School' Dabei Monks Archived 2 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Luxury cassock triggers harsh criticism on Shaolin Temple
  5. ^ Shaolin Abbot's "purchase" of 160,000-yuan robe receives netizens' criticism - People's Daily
  6. ^ Jakes, Susan (19 November 2001). "Kicking the Habit". Time. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  7. ^ Shaolin Temple Under Hacker Attack - Wall Street Journal
  8. ^ Image of the letter on the hacked website Archived 5 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Hacker ridicules Shaolin abbot - Shanghai Daily
  10. ^ Shaolin Abbot Defends Lifestyle
  11. ^ China's Shaolin Temple builds business empire - AsiaOne Business
  12. ^ "释永信被查 "佛门CEO"的商业版图有多大? _ 东方财富网". finance.eastmoney.com. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  13. ^ China Exclusive: Out of jungles - People's Daily
  14. ^ Kung fu temple dismisses vice rumor
  15. ^ Shaolin Temple abbot rumored to have Solicited Prostitutes
  16. ^ 少林寺30弟子力挺方丈: "释正义"乃被开除的释延鲁. Jiemian News. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  17. ^ "Money, lust and kung fu: Shaolin's 'CEO monk' is under fire - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. 9 August 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  18. ^ 中国佛教协会发布公告: 同意对释永信的戒牒予以注销. Xinhua News Agency. 28 July 2025. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  19. ^ Peng, Dannie; Zheng, William (29 July 2025). "China's famous Shaolin Temple gets a new abbot after predecessor removed". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
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