China has appointed a new abbot to the country’s famous Shaolin Temple, two days after authorities at the Buddhist monastery announced its head monk for more than 25 years had been placed under investigation for alleged financial and sex scandals.
The abbot of White Horse Temple, Shi Yinle, will replace him, according to a brief statement from the Shaolin Temple on Tuesday.
Companies linked to disgraced former abbot Shi Yongxin, 60, have been deregistered and his Buddhist credentials revoked, the South China Morning Post reported earlier.
“In accordance with the regulations on the appointment of abbots of Chinese Buddhist Temples, after democratic evaluation and approval by the Shaolin Temple and following the relevant procedures, Venerable Yinle was invited to be the abbot of Shaolin Temple,” the one paragraph statement said.
Established over 1,500 years ago in Henan province, Shaolin Temple is the birthplace of Zen Buddhism and an Unesco World Heritage site, famed as the cradle of Shaolin kung fu. White Horse Temple is also in Henan.
More to follow …
