The head of China’s most famous kung fu temple is under investigation by the country’s religious administration after online allegations by an anonymous former monk.
Shi Yongxin, the Buddhist abbot of Shaolin monastery in Henan province, has been fighting off claims over the past fortnight of multiple sexual relations and embezzlement.
“Our bureau takes this extremely seriously and will swiftly clarify ... and ensure a correct understanding of the matter,” the religious affairs bureau said in a one-sentence notice issued late last week and published on the city government website on Monday.
Shi is a well-known figure in China, where he is nicknamed the “CEO monk” for his entrepreneurial flair and penchant for international travel.
Concerns in the media that the abbot would use an impending trip to Thailand for a kung fu performance to flee authorities were put to rest on Sunday as Thai media reported that he had not arrived.
The claims, posted by a former disciple at the temple using the pseudonym Shi Zhengyi, alleged that Shi had been expelled from the famous temple in the late 1980s.
Documents provided by the former monk indicated that the abbot had embezzled money though the issuance of fake receipts. Shi was also accused of holding double identities and having sexual relations with several women, fathering several children.
The allegations prompted the Buddhist Association of China to say in a statement on its website that the incident “had affected the image and reputation of Chinese Buddhism”.
A statement posted on the Shaolin Temple website dismissed the claims as “untrue rumours” fabricated by people seeking to harm Zen Buddhism. It said the temple has already contacted legal authorities about bringing a libel case against those publishing the claims.
“We hope the broad masses will can respect the law, respect the reputation of others and uphold the fair and just legal social environment,” the statement said.
Shi made international headlines in February when he announced plans for Shaolin to build a $297m (£190m) complex in Australia that would include a temple, hotel, kung fu academy and golf course. Shaolin temple, built in the late fifth century, insists that aggressive commercialisation is s the best way to defend its heritage and spread its Buddhist message.
Online witch-hunts such as this have become less common under President Xi Jinping, who has favoured a government- rather than grassroots-led campaign to root out corruption in the country. Xi pledged to go after “tigers and flies” – high- and low-ranking officials – when he launched the anti-graft campaign in late 2012. Guo Boxiong, former vice-chairman of the central military commission, was the most recent “tiger” to fall this week in that formal campaign.
Associated Press contributed to this report
