https://www.scmp.com/rss/522166/feed The latest news and top stories on Shi Yinle. Formerly the abbot of White Horse Temple, he is now the head monk of the historic Shaolin Temple. During his leadership at the White Horse Temple, he demonstrated exceptional managerial skills, streamlining internal affairs, overseeing significant construction projects and enhancing the temple’s cultural influence. His appointment to Shaolin Temple follows allegations against the previous abbot, suggesting a focus on restoring religious authenticity,... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Fan Chen Fan Chen Prosecutors have formally indicted Shi Yongxin, the former abbot of the famed Shaolin Temple, four months after his arrest and following a string of financial and sexual scandals. Prosecutors in Xinxiang, Henan province, have formally charged Shi with embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, non-state official bribery and offering bribes, according to a Friday report from state news agency Xinhua. The 60-year-old former abbot led the Shaolin Temple for over 25 years and was ousted in July last... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3347373/former-shaolin-temple-abbot-indicted-bribery-and-embezzlement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3347373/former-shaolin-temple-abbot-indicted-bribery-and-embezzlement?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 13:14:58 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng The Communist Party chief of Henan province has made an impromptu visit to the famed Shaolin Temple, whose former abbot was rounded up on corruption charges earlier this year, and called for a clear boundary between the temple and business. Liu Ning made the comments during his first inspection of the temple on Sunday, according to a report by the official Henan Daily. The visit comes nearly five months after former abbot Shi Yongxin – known as “the CEO monk” – was abruptly removed amid... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3336493/chinas-scandal-hit-shaolin-temple-urged-draw-clear-line-between-business-and-religion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3336493/chinas-scandal-hit-shaolin-temple-urged-draw-clear-line-between-business-and-religion?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 11:00:18 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen Local authorities have formally approved the arrest of the former head of China’s famous Shaolin Temple, four months after he was placed under criminal investigation for alleged financial and sex scandals. Shi Yongxin’s arrest had been approved “on suspicion of embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, and accepting bribes as a non-state functionary”, the Xinxiang Procuratorate announced in a statement on Sunday. Xinxiang, in China’s central Henan province, is about two hours’ drive from the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3332977/disgraced-shaolin-temple-abbot-shi-yongxin-closer-prosecution-over-money-scandals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3332977/disgraced-shaolin-temple-abbot-shi-yongxin-closer-prosecution-over-money-scandals?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Nov 2025 09:02:48 +0000 Phoebe Zhang Phoebe Zhang Buddhists should obey the law, be patriotic, pay taxes and “play an active role in building the nation and society”, China’s Buddhist regulator said on Tuesday, speaking out for the second time this month about the disgraced abbot of Shaolin Temple. In a statement on its website, the Buddhist Association of China said that Shi Yongxin, the former abbot, had misappropriated and embezzled funds and temple assets, violated Buddhist regulations, and was suspected of criminal offences. “This has... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3322500/after-shaolin-temple-scandal-chinas-buddhists-urged-obey-law-and-pay-taxes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3322500/after-shaolin-temple-scandal-chinas-buddhists-urged-obey-law-and-pay-taxes?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 08:09:53 +0000 Meredith Chen Meredith Chen China’s fabled Shaolin Temple, nestled in forest at the foot of a holy mountain in Henan province, is known as the cradle of kung fu and Zen buddhism. The 1,500-year-old monastery is also at the centre of scandal as its long-time celebrity abbot Shi Yongxin is investigated over alleged financial offences and sexual misconduct. Tourists and disciples continue to stream through the temple gates in Dengfeng, taking photos, lighting incense, bowing reverently in prayer and watching energetic kung fu... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3321438/shaolins-ceo-monk-scandal-may-prompt-overhaul-how-temples-are-run-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3321438/shaolins-ceo-monk-scandal-may-prompt-overhaul-how-temples-are-run-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Aug 2025 22:00:16 +0000 Yating Yang Yating Yang The introduction of gruelling work schedules like those in China’s tech industry, or so-called Buddhist “996” reform, has swept through the internationally renowned Shaolin Temple. The new rules come in the wake of an investigation into former Shaolin abbot, Shi Yongxin, for financial and sexual misconduct and the appointment of his successor, Shi Yinle. After the downfall of Shi Yongxin, who led the famous temple in central China’s Henan province for more than two decades, it was announced that... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3321047/new-abbot-scandal-hit-china-shaolin-temple-enforces-buddhist-996-rule-30-monks-quit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3321047/new-abbot-scandal-hit-china-shaolin-temple-enforces-buddhist-996-rule-30-monks-quit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Aug 2025 06:00:08 +0000 Alice Yan Alice Yan The successor to the disgraced abbot of the internationally famous Shaolin Temple has shunned the lifestyle that got his predecessor into trouble. Two days after Shi Yongxin, the former head of Shaolin Temple in central China’s Henan province for more than two decades, was placed under investigation for financial and sex scandals, the temple announced that Shi Yinle, the abbot of The White Horse Temple, would replace him. Both holy places are located in Henan and are regarded as among the most... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3320408/new-head-scandal-hit-shaolin-temple-avoids-commercial-activities-does-manual-work-himself?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3320408/new-head-scandal-hit-shaolin-temple-avoids-commercial-activities-does-manual-work-himself?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Aug 2025 08:00:13 +0000 Dannie Peng,Meredith Chen,William Zheng Dannie Peng,Meredith Chen,William Zheng China has appointed a new abbot to the Shaolin Temple, two days after authorities at the Buddhist monastery announced that Shi Yongxin, its head monk for more than 25 years, was under investigation for alleged financial and sex scandals. The abbot of White Horse Temple, Shi Yinle, will replace him, according to a brief statement from the Shaolin Temple on Tuesday. “In accordance with the regulations on the appointment of abbots of Chinese Buddhist Temples, after democratic evaluation and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3319996/chinas-famous-shaolin-temple-gets-new-abbot-after-predecessor-removed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3319996/chinas-famous-shaolin-temple-gets-new-abbot-after-predecessor-removed?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jul 2025 09:13:53 +0000