Ex-Shaolin Abbot Sentenced to 24 Years for Embezzlement
A Chinese court has sentenced Liu Yingcheng, the former abbot of the world-famous Shaolin Temple better known as Shi Yongxin, to 24 years in prison for financial crimes including embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, and bribery, according to Caixin Global.
The Xinxiang Intermediate People’s Court in central China’s Henan province handed down the verdict on May 29, also imposing a 3.5 million yuan ($515,000) fine on the former monk. Shi, 60, accepted the ruling and stated he would not appeal, ecns.cn reported.
The Verdict
The court found Shi guilty on four criminal counts spanning decades of misconduct. Between 2003 and 2025, he illegally appropriated over 131 million yuan ($19.3 million) from temple assets through his positions as abbot and president of the Shaolin charity foundation. From 2012 to 2022, he misappropriated more than 151 million yuan ($22.2 million) of temple funds for personal use, failing to repay the money for more than three months.
Beginning in July 2006, Shi accepted bribes totaling over 11.63 million yuan ($1.7 million) in exchange for favors in temple construction projects and business operations. Separately, from 1995 to 2022, he gave more than 5.67 million yuan ($835,000) in bribes to state officials to secure illicit gains. The total amount involved across all charges reached approximately 299 million yuan (~$44 million).
The court stated that the amounts were “particularly large,” the bribery offenses “particularly serious,” the crimes lasted a “long duration,” and the social impact was “extremely negative.” However, the court noted that Shi confessed after apprehension and voluntarily disclosed additional criminal activities previously unknown to investigators.
The Rise of the ‘CEO Monk’
Born in 1965 in Anhui province, Shi arrived at Shaolin Temple at age 16 seeking martial arts training. He became a monk under Abbot Xingzheng and was formally installed as the temple’s 30th abbot in August 1999 at age 34.
Over the following decades, Shi transformed the dilapidated mountain monastery into a global commercial brand worth billions. He established companies spanning tourism, cultural performances, real estate, pharmaceuticals, media, and e-commerce. The core holding company, Henan Shaolin Intangible Asset Management Co., was initially 80% owned by Shi himself before he transferred ownership to the temple in 2022.
Shi’s justification for the aggressive commercialization was characteristically blunt: “Monks also need to eat,” he once said, according to Sohu.
Institutional Response
The Buddhist Association of China issued a statement on May 29 endorsing the verdict, saying it “demonstrates the principle of equality before the law and serves as a strong warning to the Buddhist community.” The association emphasized that “no religion is above the law.”
Notably, the association had already revoked Shi’s ordination certificate in July 2025, effectively excommunicating him from the Buddhist monastic community shortly after his arrest. The case was publicly heard on May 25, 2026, with representatives from the People’s Congress, political advisory bodies, religious circles, and the public in attendance, according to Sina News/CCTV.
Unanswered Questions
The verdict has reignited scrutiny of a 2015 investigation that largely cleared Shi of similar allegations. At that time, a self-identified former disciple posted online accusations of corruption, dual household registrations, and sexual misconduct. A 2017 official investigation concluded the major allegations were “untrue or unsubstantiated,” though it noted financial management shortcomings.
Given that the court has now confirmed criminal activity dating back to 1995—predating the earlier probe by two decades—questions are being raised about why the initial investigation failed to uncover evidence that later proved conclusive. Analysts at QQ News have questioned whether the earlier investigation was genuinely thorough or whether external factors prevented a full accounting.
Implications and Forward Look
The case represents one of the most high-profile anti-corruption actions targeting a religious leader in China. The severity of the sentence—near the maximum of 25 years—signals the government’s determination to assert control over religious institutions’ financial affairs.
The establishment of the government-run Shaolin Temple Management Office in May 2025 effectively transferred administrative control from the temple to the state, marking a significant shift in the centuries-old institution’s governance.
Key questions remain unanswered: Who were the state officials who received bribes from Shi over 27 years, and have they been investigated? What will happen to Shaolin Temple’s extensive commercial assets now that its architect is imprisoned? And will the temple appoint a new abbot, or will the government-appointed management office assume permanent control?
For Shi Yongxin—once celebrated as a visionary who saved a dying temple, now convicted as a felon who plundered it—the fall has been as dramatic as the rise. As the Buddhist Association noted, the verdict is a reminder that no institution, however revered, stands above the law.