Embattled abbot's ordination certificate revoked

The Buddhist Association of China announced on Monday that it has stripped the ordination certificate of Shi Yongxin as the abbot of the world-renowned Shaolin Temple is being investigated by multiple authorities for allegedly embezzling funds and having affairs with various women, which has resulted in him fathering at least one child.

An ordination certificate is proof of someone's acceptance into the monastic community.

"Shi's actions are extremely bad, seriously damaging the reputation of the Buddhist community and the image of monks," the association said in its statement.

On Sunday evening, the Shaolin Temple released a statement on its official website saying Shi, who is also the deputy head of the association, is suspected of criminal offenses, including embezzling and misappropriating project funds and temple assets. He is also accused of maintaining "improper relationships with multiple women" over a long period and "fathering at least one illegitimate child".

Born in 1965, he became a monk in 1981 and has served as the 30th abbot of the 1,500-year-old temple located in a mountain range in central China's Henan province since 1999. He is also known as the first Chinese abbot to hold a master's degree in business administration.

Being a world-famous Buddhist sanctuary and the birthplace of kung fu, Shaolin Temple attracts thousands of disciples every year, including some from across the world.