China removes Shaolin Temple head over embezzlement, affairs with multiple women

This photo taken on November 8, 2009 shows the abbot of Shaolin Temple, Shi Yongxin, speaking to AFP at the famous temple in Dengfeng county, in China's central Henan province. (Photo by PETER PARKS / AFP)

The head of the Chinese temple known as the birthplace of kung fu will be disrobed for "extremely" bad behaviour, Beijing's top Buddhist authority said Monday, after allegations of embezzlement saw him placed under investigation.

The Shaolin Temple said on Sunday that Abbot Shi Yongxin, known as the "CEO monk" for establishing dozens of companies abroad, was suspected of "embezzling project funds and temple assets".

The monastery said Shi had "seriously violated Buddhist precepts", including by allegedly engaging in "improper relationships" with multiple women.

"Multiple departments" were conducting a joint investigation, it said in a statement on WeChat.

In response, the Buddhist Association of China, overseen by the ruling Communist Party, said Monday it would cancel Shi's certificate of ordination.

"Shi Yongxin's actions are of an extremely bad nature, seriously undermining the reputation of the Buddhist community, hurting the image of monks," the association said in an online statement.

The association "firmly supports the decision to deal with Shi Yongxin in accordance with the law".

Shi had previously been accused by former monks of embezzling money from a temple-run company, maintaining a fleet of luxury cars and fathering children with multiple women.

China's government exercises authority over the appointment of religious leaders, and "improper" conduct is often grounds for removal from office.

A hashtag related to the temple scandal had been viewed more than 560 million times on social media platform Weibo as of Monday morning.

The last post to the abbot's personal account on Weibo declared: "when one's own nature is pure, the pure land is here in the present".

Shi faced similar allegations in 2015 which the temple called "vicious libel".

Shi, 59, took office as abbot in 1999 and in the following decades expanded Shaolin studies and cultural knowledge overseas.

He helped the temple establish dozens of companies -- but received backlash for commercialising Buddhism.

The temple, established in AD 495, is known as the birthplace of Zen Buddhism and Chinese kung fu.

Shi was first elected vice-chairman of the Buddhist Association of China in 2002 and has served as a representative to the National People's Congress, the country's top lawmaking body.