A Chinese court has sentenced former Shaolin Temple abbot Shi Yongxin to 24 years in prison after finding him guilty of multiple corruption-related offenses, including embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, and bribery.
The ruling, delivered Friday by a court in central China’s Henan Province, marks the dramatic downfall of one of the country’s most recognizable religious figures. Shi, whose birth name is Liu Yingcheng, was also ordered to pay a fine of 3.5 million yuan (approximately $516,000).
According to state broadcaster CCTV, the court found that Shi abused his authority as abbot of the world-famous Shaolin Temple and other positions to illegally embezzle more than 131 million yuan (about $19 million) between 2003 and 2025. Prosecutors also determined that he misappropriated more than 151 million yuan (approximately $22 million) in temple and project funds for personal use between 2012 and 2022, with the money remaining unpaid for extended periods.
In its judgment, the court stated that the crimes involved exceptionally large sums of money and that the bribery offenses were particularly serious. Authorities said the misconduct continued for many years and resulted in significant social harm and negative public impact.
Despite the severity of the charges, the court noted that Shi confessed to his crimes, cooperated with investigators, voluntarily disclosed additional offenses that authorities had not previously uncovered, and expressed remorse.
The investigation into Shi became public in 2025 when the Shaolin Temple announced that he was under scrutiny for alleged financial misconduct involving temple assets and project funds.
In addition to the financial crimes, temple authorities accused Shi of violating Buddhist principles by maintaining long-term relationships with multiple women and fathering at least one child. The allegations sparked widespread public attention and controversy across China.
Founded more than 1,500 years ago in Henan Province, the Shaolin Temple is one of China’s most renowned Buddhist institutions and is globally recognized as the birthplace of Shaolin kung fu. Its martial arts traditions have been featured in numerous films and television productions, including the 1982 classic The Shaolin Temple, which helped launch the career of martial arts star Jet Li.
Shi Yongxin gained international prominence for modernizing and expanding the temple’s commercial activities. Often referred to in Chinese media as the “CEO Monk,” he was both praised and criticized for promoting Shaolin culture through global kung fu performances, merchandising ventures, and business partnerships.
