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Shaolin Temple head to be disrobed over graft probe
The Straits Times
|July 29, 2025
The head of the Chinese temple known as the birthplace of gongfu will be disrobed for "extremely" bad behaviour, Beijing's top Buddhist authority said on July 28, after allegations of embezzlement saw him placed under investigation.
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BEIJING - The head of the Chinese temple known as the birthplace of gongfu will be disrobed for "extremely" bad behaviour, Beijing's top Buddhist authority said on July 28, after allegations of embezzlement saw him placed under investigation.
The Shaolin Temple said on July 27 that Abbot Shi Yongxin, known as the "CEO monk" for establishing dozens of companies abroad, was suspected of "embezzling project funds and temple assets".
The monastery said he had seriously violated Buddhist precepts, including allegedly engaging in "improper relationships" with multiple women.
"Multiple departments" were conducting a joint investigation, the temple said in a statement on WeChat.
This story is from the July 29, 2025 edition of The Straits Times.
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