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Luxury cassock cloaks luster of famed Shaolin Temple

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-06-09 15:38

People display a luxury cassock, which was given to Shaolin Abbot Shi Yongxin as a gift by a silk company, in Songshan, Henan province, June 7, 2009 [CFP]

Shi said the cassock would be housed in the temple museum to be build.

The move has exposed Shaolin to harsh criticism, which the 1,500-year kungfu shrine is no stranger to.

Almost 90 percent of the 5,000 respondents to an online survey launched by ifeng.com, a website affiliated to the Hong Kong Phoenix TV, said they disapproved of the temple accepting such a gift.

"Why should an ascetic temple accept a luxurious gift like this? Shi is not a monk but a businessman," said an anonymous commenter from central Henan Province, where the temple is located.

"The temple should not accept the 'Trojan horse,' which the company gave to put its product into spotlight," he said.

Shi has earned the nickname of the "CEO monk", since many people have accused him of running Shaolin like a business.

Under his leadership, Shaolin has developed business ventures such as kungfu shows, film production and online sales.

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