The Vow Celibacy and Full Pockets: What China's Chief Monk Was Really Arrested For (2 Photos + 1 Video)
In Henan Province, a story that for years teetered between action movie and financial thriller has reached its logical conclusion. Shi Yongxin, now the former abbot of the legendary Shaolin Monastery, has been formally charged. 
Well, to be fair, this abbot's list of crimes is impressive: embezzlement of monastery property, misappropriation of donations, and bribe-taking. It turns out, however, that ancient kung fu techniques are powerless against a prosecutorial investigation if your safe has accumulated too many "non-spiritual" assets.
Shi Yongxin went down in history as the "CEO monk," and that's no metaphor. After earning his MBA, he was the first to realize that prayer wasn't worth much, but the Shaolin brand was a lucrative source of income. Under his leadership, the monastery transformed into a global corporation with worldwide shows, film productions, and online souvenir sales. While the novices practiced asceticism, their mentor vigorously mastered the laws of the market, for which he ultimately paid the price. The line between the temple treasury and the abbot's personal pocket became completely blurred.
But financial fraud was just the tip of the iceberg. By March 2026, the investigation confirmed what had been whispered on Chinese social media for years. It turns out that the strict vow of celibacy didn't prevent the "holy father" from maintaining close relationships with a long list of women and even fathering children out of wedlock. Apparently, Shi Yongxin's interpretation of Buddhist teachings was as flexible as the backs of his best students.
The outcome is predictable: last summer, the Buddhist Association of China revoked his monastic certificate, declaring that Shaolin's image was already in disrepair. Now the former abbot must practice meditation in a Chinese pretrial detention center.
