Disgraced head of China’s famed Shaolin Temple defrocked, firms deregistered

Companies linked to Shi Yongxin, the disgraced head of China’s renowned Shaolin Temple, have been deregistered, and his Buddhist credentials revoked – with authorities citing “severe damage” caused to the image of the order.

The swift move to erase the institutional footprint of the abbot of China’s most famous Buddhist sanctuary came a day after temple authorities said Shi was under investigation for criminal charges, including embezzling funds and temple assets.

The Buddhist Association of China, the national governing body overseeing Buddhist affairs, expressed its strong support for the investigation and the subsequent actions taken.

In an official announcement on Monday, the association condemned Shi’s misconduct as “severely damaging to the reputation of Buddhism and the image of monks”.

The association said it had formally cancelled Shi’s ordination certificate, effectively stripping him of his monastic status.

No individual was above the law or the moral standards of their faith, the association added, emphasising its commitment to uphold the discipline and integrity of the Buddhist community.

South China Morning Post