Once hailed as the “CEO Monk” of China, Shi Yongxin, abbot of the Shaolin Temple, is now at the center of a sweeping investigation that is shaking not only Buddhist circles but also China’s entertainment industry. According to Chinese media, Shi is under scrutiny for violating Buddhist precepts, embezzlement, and allegedly fathering a child through multiple extramarital relationships.
While the personal scandals dominate headlines, attention is also turning to how Shi used the Shaolin brand to deeply embed the temple into the film and television sector—an unprecedented move for a Buddhist institution.
Digital Beginnings and Business Ventures
In 1996, well ahead of the digital curve, Shi Yongxin pushed for the launch of Shaolin Temple’s official website, publishing martial arts texts like the Yi Jin Jing and Xi Sui Jing. This digital initiative attracted tens of thousands of global visitors and laid the groundwork for later commercial ventures.
By 1997, Shi established Henan Shaolin Temple Industrial Development Co., Ltd., marking the first formal commercial entity tied to a Chinese Buddhist temple.
Licensing the Shaolin Brand and Entering Cinema
Following the massive success of Jet Li’s 1982 film Shaolin Temple, Shi increasingly saw the commercial value of Shaolin’s image. He began licensing the Shaolin name and intervening in productions. According to reports, Shi once demanded royalties from Stephen Chow during the filming of Shaolin Soccer (2001), which allegedly led to the film losing access to the mainland Chinese market.
Yet, Shi wasn’t always obstructive. He directly authorized and co-invested in the 2011 film New Shaolin Temple, which starred Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, and Nicholas Tse. Reports say he invested 150 million yuan and appointed disciple Fang Huayang —also the film’s producer—as CEO of Shaolin Temple Culture Communication Company.
Ambitious But Unfinished Projects
Shi’s ambitions didn’t stop with one hit. Over the years, he authorized multiple film and TV adaptations, founding at least 17 companies, including:
- Shaolin Temple Film & TV Company (Henan)
- Shaolin Temple Cultural Industry Development
- Shaolin Intangible Assets Management Co., Ltd.
In 2012, Enlight Pictures announced a 3D Shaolin Temple film, backed by Shi himself. Though approved in 2013, the project only showed signs of activity in 2020 and is currently stalled—largely due to Shi’s ongoing investigation.
In 2018, Shi planned Shaolin Temple 2 with the same crew as Jet Li’s original. The production claimed it aimed to discover “the next Jackie Chan.” Despite early hype, the project was abandoned after 2020.
Even as recent as 2020, Shi met with director Zhang Jizhong to pitch a new Shaolin Temple drama, reportedly invoking Jack Ma to bolster investor confidence. However, that vision is now indefinitely postponed.
Public Reactions and Cultural Fallout
Amid the fallout, an old quote from the 1997 Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils series spoken by the villain Jiumazhi has gone viral in China:
“So this is what Shaolin Temple has become a place that hides women and harbors corruption.”
Actor Lee Kwok-Lam, who played Jiumazhi, responded humorously on Weibo, saying, “I’m no prophet. This has nothing to do with me.”
With Shi Yongxin’s reputation in tatters and his Buddhist title revoked by the Chinese Buddhist Association, his long-standing film ventures are now on hold. Whether the Shaolin Temple’s cinematic legacy can recover remains to be seen.
znews
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