In the soup: A file photo of Yongxin (right) attending the opening ceremony of an urban zen centre in Shaanxi province, on June 28, 2015. He is under probe for allegedly misappropriating temple assets. — AP
The government has accused the former head monk of its most famous Buddhist temple of embezzling funds and sexual misconduct, beginning a new investigation more than a decade after similar allegations surfaced.
Shi Yongxin, the abbot of the Shaolin Temple until he lost his ordination, is under probe for allegedly misappropriating temple assets, the 1,500-year-old monastery said in a notice posted on its official WeChat account on Sunday.
The institution also accused Yongxin of violating Buddhist precepts by having long-term relationships with several women and fathering illegitimate children.
The announcement of the investigation raised questions about timing that have dominated Chinese social media.
Many users wondered why authorities are acting now, nearly a decade after disciples first publicly accused Yongxin of similar behaviour in 2015.
Yongxin, the dharma name he is known as, emerged largely unscathed from allegations at the time including of rape, embezzlement and fathering children.
Henan provincial authorities cleared him of a claim of having an illegitimate daughter that year and accusations of financial wrongdoing in 2017, citing insufficient evidence.
The China Buddhist Association moved swiftly to distance itself from Yongxin, announcing yesterday it had cancelled his ordination certificate.
The association said it received a report from Henan provincial Buddhist authorities recommending the action.
It expressed “firm support” for legal action against him. — Bloomberg
