Those of you who grew up in the 1970s would recall how knowledge of Chinese martial arts grew by leaps and bounds, driven largely by a spate of films centred around the subject. Arguably, the most well known film of that genre was the 36th Chamber of Shaolin starring Gordon Liu. Others followed even Shaolin Soccer, Kung Fu Hustle and if you want to include the 2011 film Chhota Bheem: Master of Shaolin!
But the Shaolin brand has fallen on hard times, witness the abbot of the Shaolin Temple being held for embezzlement, financial improprieties and not to forget, violation of Buddhist discipline through improper relationships with women resulting in children!
Shi Yongxin, the abbot who has held top posts such as president of the Henan Buddhist Association since 1998 and vice president of the Buddhist Association of China since 2002, has long been a controversial figure.
Nicknamed the “CEO monk,” he is credited as well as criticized for transforming the Shaolin Temple into a global brand through business ventures, martial arts schools, and international licensing.
But the latest allegations was the last straw for the authorities. According to a July 8th post on the official Shaolin Temple website, Shi was last seen in public on July 7th, when he participated in a monks’ meeting.
Many netizens expressed frustration with the authorities responsible for supervising religious institutions.
“He had a wife and kids for years and many netizens knew about it,” said a netizen, asking “What were the concerned authorities doing all this time?”
Others dismissed Shi as a “fake monk,” and some even too aim at Buddhism, calling Daoism the “true native faith” of China.
The Shaolin Temple has said it will release more information as the investigation unfolds.
