Compiled by GERARD GIMINO, BEH YUEN HUI and R. ARAVINTHAN
IN a dramatic shift from profit to piety, China’s famed Shaolin Temple is undergoing a sweeping transformation under its new abbot Shi Yinle, Nanyang Siang Pau reported.
Since assuming leadership on July 29, following the downfall of Shi Yongxin – who is being probed for embezzlement, improper relationships with women and fathering illegitimate children – Yinle has introduced a series of “de-commercialisation” reforms.
These include shutting down kung fu performances, banning fees for ritual blessings and clearing out shops within the temple grounds.
Yinle has reinstated the traditional Shaolin lifestyle of balancing farming with Zen practice.
Monks now rise at 4.30am for chanting, followed by farm work, afternoon meditation and martial arts training.
Mobile phones and all forms of entertainment are banned, and monks must obtain permission to leave the temple on weekends.
It was reported that dozens of monks – particularly younger ones who were unable to adapt to the stricter discipline and those involved in livestreaming – have left the temple.
During Yongxin’s tenure (August 1999-July 2025), the temple reportedly generated over one billion yuan (RM590.7mil) annually through global martial arts tours, which once cost up to US$500,000 (RM2.12mil) per show, merchandise sales and others.
> The daily also reported that Thailand topped the list of the world’s most adulterous countries, with a staggering 51% infidelity rate.
Based on data compiled from multiple survey platforms, other countries with high rates of infidelity include Denmark (46%), Germany and Italy (45% each), France (43%), Norway (41%), Belgium (40%) and Spain (39%).
Sharing ninth place with a 36% cheating rate are Finland, the United Kingdom, Canada, Greece and Luxembourg.
(The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.)
