According to the official announcement issued by the Shaolin Temple Management Office on July 27, 2025, Shi Yongxin is under investigation by multiple departments for suspected criminal activity. Below are the core points of the event and legal analysis.
⚖️ 1. Core accusations from the official announcement
1. Economic crime
Misappropriation of temple assets: Shi Yongxin is accused of using his position to misappropriate or embezzle funds from Shaolin Temple projects and temple assets. Investigations revealed that Shaolin Temple owns 15 luxury cars, overseas branch assets, and related companies (18 enterprises, over 700 trademarks). Previously, he claimed the luxury cars were 'government rewards,' but the announcement directly classified it as a criminal offense.
Financial black hole: The temple's annual income exceeds 100 million, but the flow of funds has long been opaque, with overseas income detached from audits and issues of mixing corporate accounts with temple assets.
2. Violations of regulations and criminal issues
Long-term improper relationships with multiple women: The first official confirmation of his personal life scandal, including having an illegitimate child.
This conclusion overturns the 2017 investigation's result of 'no improper relationships found.'
Suspected bigamy: If it is confirmed that he lives with his mistress as a couple or is registered as married, it may violate (Criminal Law) Article 258 (punishable by less than 2 years of imprisonment).
⚖️ 2. Legal classification and possible charges
Alleged charges Legal basis Key evidence and circumstances Sentence range
Crime of embezzlement (Criminal Law) Article 271 Misappropriation of incense money, donations to purchase luxury cars, real estate, etc. Huge amount: Imprisonment of over 5 years
Misappropriation of funds (Criminal Law) Article 272 Using temple funds for personal expenses or profit-making activities for more than 3 months without repayment 3-10 years imprisonment
Bigamy (Criminal Law) Article 258 Having illegitimate children with multiple women and living together as a couple Less than 2 years of imprisonment Legal dispute point: Whether the temple is considered an 'unit,' whether the abbot is a 'public official.' In practice, the Ministry of Public Security has clearly stated that the management personnel of Shaolin Temple can constitute crimes of embezzlement or misappropriation of funds (e.g., an abbot in Jiangxi was sentenced to 8 months for embezzling 67,000 yuan).
3. Timeline and background of the event July 24, 2025: Shi Yongxin's Weibo account ceased to be updated (previously averaging 1.5 posts per day), temple personnel responded ambiguously about the 'whereabouts of the abbot.'
July 27: The Shaolin Temple Management Office announced that it confirmed he was under joint investigation by multiple departments (Public Security, Auditing, etc.).
Historical reports:
2015: Disciple 'Shi Zhengyi' publicly accused him of keeping a mistress and having dual household registrations, but economic issues were not thoroughly investigated.
2017: The authorities only canceled his secular household registration and denied the allegations of an illegitimate daughter (key evidence later confirmed to be fabricated).
4. Social impact and deep-seated issues
1. The dilemma of commercialization
Shi Yongxin has presided over Shaolin Temple for 36 years, creating a 'business empire' (annual income over 100 million, 3 million disciples in overseas branches), but excessive commercialization has led to the alienation of faith: the flow of incense money is a mystery, temples have become enterprises, and martial monks have turned into performance teams.
2. Lack of supervision mechanisms
The temple's economy lacks financial transparency and auditing systems, the abbot's power is absolute, and corruption is likely to arise.
3. Crisis of trust
From 'reporting to pursue accountability for defamation' to the official announcement confirming criminal activity, credibility has suffered a severe blow.
5. Follow-up developments
Key points of the joint investigation: Cross-border asset transfer (such as funds from overseas branches), DNA identification of the illegitimate child, auditing of related company accounts.
Potential consequences: If convicted, Shi Yongxin could face several years to over ten years in prison and may become a symbolic case for anti-corruption.
💡 The golden robe cannot hide greed; the Buddhist path is not a lawless land! This case warns: In the face of the law, identity is never a protective talisman. If convicted, Shi Yongxin faces not only disciplinary punishment but also a life behind bars.
