Over the weekend, Chinese authorities initiated an investigation into Xiyong Ting, the abbot of Xiaolin Temple. The inquiries are related to allegations of embezzlement, misuse of temple funds, sexual misconduct, and breaches of Buddhist teachings.
Located in Henan Province, central China, Shorin Temple was established in 495 and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010. It’s renowned as a prominent Buddhist monastery and the birthplace of kung fu martial arts. Shi, who lost his religious ordination, became the temple’s abbot in 1999.
According to state media, Shi was elected as vice-president of the Chinese Buddhist Association in September 2002. Reports suggest that he has been involved in controversial actions that align with the government’s attempts to control religious practices, particularly concerning Tibetan Buddhism. There’s a broader context here, reflecting the government’s push to bring religions more in line with communist values.
The South China Morning Post reported that Shi has also served as president of the Henan Province Buddhist Association since 1998 and was a delegate at the Chinese National Congress between 1998 and 2018.
In a recent visit by a New York Times reporter, the temple showcased a calligraphy demonstration at its famous kung fu show, with calligraphy pieces priced around 300 yuan each. At least one of these works was sold, which adds an interesting layer to the ongoing operations at the temple.
The report noted that visitors leaving the show had to navigate through a gift shop selling not just Buddhist memorabilia, but a variety of items like sneakers and jewelry, perhaps revealing more about the temple’s commercialization than one might expect.
In early July, Shi attended a meeting of monks, which was his last public appearance noted by the SCMP. At one point, police were reported to have escorted a monk from Xinxing City, raising some eyebrows. Shi has a substantial following on Weibo, with over 870,000 followers, and it is said that an announcement about his alleged misconduct will be made public soon.
There are serious allegations against Shi, including financial misappropriation and inappropriate relationships with women—claims that he fathered at least one child inappropriately have also surfaced. The temple has stated that further information will soon be available.
The Chinese Buddhist Association remarked that Shi’s actions have severely tarnished the reputation of the Buddhist community.
These allegations are not new for Shi. In 2015, he faced accusations of embezzlement and maintaining multiple relationships which contradicted Buddhist vows of celibacy. At that time, the temple denied all accusations against him.
A statement made at the time suggested that if there were real issues, they would have previously come to light. It’s curious how controversies can influence public perception and operational integrity within such institutions.
On Sunday, a report circulated claiming that Shi was attempting to escape to the U.S. with family members, although this was quickly dismissed by authorities as a false narrative.
