Beijing — A Chinese court has sentenced Shi Yongxin, the former abbot of the world-renowned Shaolin Temple, to 24 years in prison after convicting him of serious corruption-related offenses, including misappropriation of funds and bribery.

The verdict was handed down on Friday in Henan province, according to China’s state broadcaster CCTV. In addition to the prison term, Shi was fined 3.5 million yuan (approximately $516,000).

Shi Yongxin, whose secular name is Liu Yingcheng, was found guilty of using his position as abbot to illegally embezzle more than 131 million yuan ($19 million) between 2003 and 2025, either alone or in collusion with others. He also misappropriated over 151 million yuan ($22 million) for personal use for extended periods without repayment, particularly between 2012 and 2022.

The court described the scale of the crimes as massive, noting that the bribery offenses were especially severe and that the illegal activities spanned a long period. Judges stated that the offenses caused “severely harmful consequences and adverse social impact.”

Despite the gravity of the case, the court acknowledged that Shi confessed to his crimes, provided additional information not previously known to investigators, and expressed remorse.

The case first came to light last year when the Shaolin Temple announced that Shi was under investigation for suspected misappropriation and embezzlement of project funds and temple assets. At the time, temple authorities also accused him of violating Buddhist precepts by maintaining long-term relationships with multiple women and fathering at least one child.

The Shaolin Temple in Henan province is one of China’s most iconic cultural and religious landmarks, famous worldwide for its traditional kung fu martial arts. Its reputation extends far beyond religion, having been popularized in numerous films and television dramas, most notably the 1982 movie The Shaolin Temple, which starred martial arts legend Jet Li.

Shi Yongxin had long been a controversial figure. He was often referred to as the “CEO monk” for his aggressive commercialization of the temple, including large-scale kung fu performances and merchandise sales. While these efforts significantly boosted the temple’s visibility and revenue, they also drew criticism from traditionalists who felt he had strayed from the spiritual roots of Buddhism.