Shaolin abbot disrobed for 'extremely bad behaviour'
Shi Yongxin is said to have 'seriously violated Buddhist precepts', including allegedly engaging in 'improper relationships' with women. File photo: Reuters
The head of the Chinese temple known as the birthplace of kung fu will be disrobed for "extremely" bad behaviour, Beijing's top Buddhist authority said on Monday, after allegations of embezzlement saw him placed under investigation.
The Shaolin Temple said on Sunday that Abbot Shi Yongxin, known as the "CEO monk" for establishing dozens of companies abroad, was suspected of "embezzling project funds and temple assets".
It said Shi had "seriously violated Buddhist precepts", including by allegedly engaging in "improper relationships" with multiple women.
"Multiple departments" are conducting a joint investigation, it said in a statement on WeChat.
The Buddhist Association of China, overseen by the Communist Party, said on Monday it would cancel Shi's certificate of ordination.
"Shi Yongxin's actions are of an extremely bad nature, seriously undermining the reputation of the Buddhist community, hurting the image of monks," the association said in an online statement.
Shi had previously been accused by former monks of embezzling money from a temple-run company, maintaining a fleet of luxury cars and fathering children with multiple women.
China's government exercises authority over the appointment of religious leaders, and "improper" conduct is often grounds for removal from office.
A hashtag related to the temple scandal had been viewed more than 560 million times on social media platform Weibo as of Monday morning.
The last post to the abbot's personal account on Weibo declared: "when one's own nature is pure, the pure land is here in the present".
Shi faced similar allegations in 2015 which the temple called "vicious libel".
Shi, 59, took office as abbot in 1999 and in the following decades expanded Shaolin studies and cultural knowledge overseas.
He helped the temple establish dozens of companies – but received backlash for commercialising Buddhism.
The temple, established in AD 495, is known as the birthplace of Zen Buddhism and Chinese kung fu.
Shi was first elected vice-chairman of the Buddhist Association of China in 2002 and has served as a representative to the National People's Congress. (AFP)
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