Shi Yongxin, the former abbot of China’s world-famous Shaolin Temple, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for crimes including embezzlement and bribery.
A court in central Henan province ruled that Shi had misappropriated temple assets worth more than 282 million yuan ($42 million; £31 million) from 2003 to 2025. He also used his official position to obtain millions from temple construction projects illegally and offered huge bribes to Chinese officials.
Shi, whose birth name is Liu Yingcheng, earlier admitted his guilt. On Friday, he said he would not appeal against the verdict. He was also fined 3.5 million yuan (approximately $517,000).
The 1,500-year-old Shaolin Temple, located on a mountain range in Henan province, attracts thousands of disciples from China and elsewhere every year. Shi took office there as abbot in 1999, soon earning the nickname “CEO monk” for transforming the institution into a global brand. Under his leadership, the temple opened schools outside China and formed a travelling troupe of monks who performed Shaolin kung fu shows.
Last year, he was defrocked by China’s Buddhist Association over allegations of misappropriating project funds and temple assets, including alleged sexual misconduct.
The verdict marks a significant blow to the once-influential monk who built Shaolin Temple into a global commercial brand.
Sacred temples and religious institutions must be protected from corruption and misappropriation of devotees’ offerings.
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