Former Shaolin Temple Abbot Shi Yongxin Jailed 24 Years for Embezzlement and Bribery

Shi Yongxin, the former abbot of China's Shaolin Temple, recognised as the birthplace of kung fu, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison. The court in Henan province found him guilty of embezzlement and bribery, among other charges.

Investigations revealed that Shi Yongxin, whose birth name is Liu Yingcheng, misappropriated temple assets totalling over CNY#282 million (approximately $42 million; £31 million) between 2003 and 2025. He also leveraged his official position to illicitly acquire millions from temple construction projects and provided substantial bribes to Chinese officials.

China's state Xinhua news agency reported that Shi had previously admitted his guilt. He has declared he will not appeal the verdict. Shi was defrocked last year by China's Buddhist association.

Shi became abbot in 1999, subsequently earning the moniker "CEO monk" for his role in transforming the 1,500-year-old institution into a global brand. Under his leadership, the temple established schools internationally and created a touring troupe of monks performing Shaolin kung fu demonstrations.

In 2015, Shi was investigated for embezzlement and fathering several children, though these charges were later dismissed.