Shi Yongxin
{{Infobox religious biography
|name = Shi Yongxin
释永信
|image = Shi Yongxin 2024.jpg
|caption =Shi Yongxin in 2024
|birth_name = Liu Yingcheng (刘应成)
|birth_date = {{b-da|1965}}
|birth_place = Yingshang County, Anhui, China
|death_date =
|death_place =
|nationality = Chinese
|religion = Buddhism
|lineage =
|title = Chan master
|location =
|education =
|occupation = Clerical Abbot of Shaolin Monastery
|teacher =
|reincarnation of =
|predecessor =
|successor =
|students =
|spouse =
|partner =
|children =
|website =
}}
Shi Yongxin ({{zh|c=释永信|p=Shì Yǒngxìn}}) is the current abbot of the Shaolin Temple. He is the thirteenth successor after Shi Xingzheng. He is the Chairman of the Henan Province Buddhists Association, a representative of the Ninth National People's Congress.
Biography
Shi Yongxin was born as Liu Yingcheng ({{lang|zh|刘应成}}) in Anhui Province's Yingshang County. Shi Yongxin is his Buddhist name. At the request of his parents, he entered monastic life at the age of 16 at Shaolin Monastery, and received full precepts in 1984. At the age of 22, he became the heir-apparent to the abbotship of Shaolin after completing his education at various Buddhist colleges, and a Dharma gathering was held between August 19 and 20, 1999, in the Shaolin Monastery, Songshan, China, for Yongxin to formally take office as abbot. He is the Chairman of the Henan Province Buddhists Association, Vice Chairman of the Buddhist Association of China, a representative of the Ninth National People's Congress. Yongxin's duties are scholarly and ecclesiastic, which involves presiding over large ceremonies at Shaolin.[http://www.shaolinkungfus.com/masters.php Shaolin Abbot Shi yong xin-Shaolin Temple kung fu school China] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613015140/http://www.shaolinkungfus.com/masters.php |date=2011-06-13 }}
Criticism
=Commercialization of the Shaolin Monastery=
Yongxin has been widely criticized in the online Buddhist and martial arts communities for commercializing the temple and running it like a business, earning him the nickname "CEO Monk".[‘CEO monk’ set to franchise Kung Fu Shaolin shrine] Most of the criticisms involve gifts he has allegedly accepted, such as a special robe[http://news.cultural-china.com/20090609152333.html?PHPSESSID=7048ed6dbced9143f3e3241edbfd3803 Luxury cassock triggers harsh criticism on Shaolin Temple] worth 160,000 Yuan ($23,439 USD)[http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90782/6674854.html Shaolin Abbot's "purchase" of 160,000-yuan robe receives netizens' criticism - People's Daily] in 2009 and a Volkswagen Touareg 4x4[http://www.asianoffbeat.com/default.asp?display=1371 Shaolin Kung-fu Monks vs 'Old School' Dabei Monks] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602233643/http://www.asianoffbeat.com/default.asp?display=1371 |date=2011-06-02 }} worth over 1,000,000 Yuan[http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-08/23/content_671578.htm Dispute over sports car for China's most famous monk - China Daily] in 2006. Other criticisms involve him using advertisements for the temple, the way admission fees are charged, and the fees charged to burn incense.[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/kung-fu-monk-fights-his-critics-1855403.html Kung fu monk fights his critics] Yongxin has also been criticized for his approval of the demolition of nearby environment in 2001, where the village surrounding the Shaolin Temple was bulldozed in order to help the bid for it to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.{{cite magazine|title= Kicking the Habit | first=Susan| last=Jakes|magazine= Time|date=2001-11-19|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,184056-2,00.html
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111004106/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,184056-2,00.html
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=November 11, 2012
|accessdate=2010-09-08}}
In November 2009 the official Shaolin Temple website was hacked twice. The first time, the message "Shaolin evildoer Shi Yongxin, go to hell" was posted in calligraphy.[https://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2009/11/13/shaolin-temple-under-hacker-attack/ Shaolin Temple Under Hacker Attack - Wall Street Journal] The second time, hackers posted a letter said to be written by Yongxin in which he apologized for living a materialistic lifestyle and commercializing the temple.[http://www.akxqq.com/2009/11/11/the-official-website-of-shaolin-temple-was-hacked-down/ Image of the letter on the hacked website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105212204/http://www.akxqq.com/2009/11/11/the-official-website-of-shaolin-temple-was-hacked-down/ |date=January 5, 2010 }}[http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200911/20091113/article_419343.htm Hacker ridicules Shaolin abbot - Shanghai Daily][http://www.lifeofguangzhou.com/node_10/node_37/node_82/2009/11/24/125902728871810.shtml Shaolin Abbot Defends Lifestyle]
Yongxin has countered these criticisms by claiming that commercialization is just a modern tool to promote and spread traditional Shaolin culture and martial arts, and is good for the Temple in the end. In his view, "Commercialization or industrialization, whatever term you use it, is a path leading up to the truth of Zen. My vision is that Shaolin will eventually become a source of consolidating Chinese people's confidence and wisdom."[http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90782/90873/6562992.html China Exclusive: Out of jungles - People's Daily]
As of January, 2011, Yongxin and the temple operated over 40 companies in cities across the world, including London and Berlin, which have purchased land and property.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110118224204/http://www.asiaone.com/Business/News/Story/A1Story20110111-257593.html China's Shaolin Temple builds business empire - AsiaOne Business]
=Prostitution rumor=
In May 2011, it was rumored that Abbot Yongxin solicited prostitutes.[http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/7375843.html Police probe prostitution rumors about Shaolin temple abbot] While Yongxin himself did not comment on the accusations, Qian Daliang, general manager of Shaolin Intangible Assets Management Center, said "it will depreciate ourselves if we make too many explanations." If it is time for the abbot to come out, he will, Qian added.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110514171428/http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Asia/Story/A1Story20110511-278183.html Shaolin Temple Deny Abbot Caught with Prostitute] It was also claimed the temple later explained that Yongxin was performing a Buddhist service for the prostitute, rather than having sex with her.[http://www.china.org.cn/china/2011-05/10/content_22531587.htm Kung fu temple dismisses vice rumor][http://shanghaiist.com/2011/05/10/shaolin_temple_abbot_rumored_to_hav.php Shaolin Temple abbot rumored to have Solicited Prostitutes]
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.shaolin.org.cn/ Official website of Shaolin Temple]
- [https://archive.today/20131129153421/http://www.shaolin.org.cn/templates/EN_T_new_3list/index.aspx?nodeid=339/ Abbot of China Shaolin Temple]
- [http://www.bodhidharma.eu/ Official website of Bodhidharma Community]
{{Buddhism topics}}
{{Authority control}}
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Category:Chinese Buddhist monks
Category:21st-century Buddhist monks
Category:21st-century Chinese people
Category:Chinese Zen Buddhists
Category:Politicians from Fuyang
Category:People's Republic of China politicians from Anhui
Category:Abbots of Shaolin Monastery
Category:Delegates to the 9th National People's Congress