A Chinese court has sentenced Shi Yongxin, the former abbot of the renowned Shaolin Temple, to 24 years in prison on charges of misappropriation of funds and bribery, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV on Friday.
Details of the Sentence
The court in central Henan province also imposed a fine of 3.5 million yuan (approximately $516,000) on Shi, whose original name is Liu Yingcheng. The verdict followed a trial where he was found guilty of multiple offenses spanning over two decades.
Embezzlement and Misappropriation
According to CCTV, the court determined that Shi, leveraging his positions including that of temple abbot, illegally embezzled more than 131 million yuan ($19 million) either alone or in conspiracy with others between 2003 and 2025. Additionally, he misappropriated over 151 million yuan ($22 million) for personal use for more than three months without repayment between 2012 and 2022.
Impact and Confession
The court highlighted that Shi's crimes involved substantial amounts, his bribery offenses were particularly severe, and his criminal conduct persisted over a long duration. These actions caused severely harmful consequences and adverse social impact, the court stated. However, CCTV noted that Shi confessed to his crimes, voluntarily disclosed details unknown to law enforcement, and showed remorse.
Background and Controversies
Last year, the Shaolin Temple announced that Shi was under investigation for suspected misappropriation and embezzlement of project funds and temple assets. Allegations also included criminal offenses and violations of Buddhist precepts, such as maintaining relationships with multiple women over a long period and fathering at least one child, according to a notice from the temple's authority on its WeChat account.
The Shaolin Temple's Fame
The Shaolin Temple, also based in Henan, transcends its religious significance. It is globally recognized for its martial arts culture, or kung fu, featured in numerous films and TV dramas, including the 1982 movie "The Shaolin Temple" starring Jet Li. In 2015, China's Xinhua news agency described Shi as a "CEO monk" who sparked controversy by developing commercial operations to promote kung fu shows and merchandise.
