China’s official national Buddhist association has established its first supervisory body less than six months after the high-profile downfall of the “CEO monk”, former Shaolin Temple abbot Shi Yongxin.
The move to improve oversight of Chinese Buddhist monks’ conduct was announced on Tuesday, a day after the Buddhist Association of China’s (BAC) 11th national congress concluded in Beijing.
Shi Zhengci, the abbot of Wuzu Temple in Huangmei county, Hubei province, was elected as the association’s chairman of the board of supervisors, according to the association, which is the national governing body for Buddhist affairs.
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It comes about five months after former Shaolin Temple abbot Shi Yongxin was abruptly removed amid allegations of embezzlement, bribery and violations of Buddhist principles, dealing a major blow to the reputation of China’s monks.
For more than 25 years, Shi Yongxin served as the abbot of one of the world’s most famous Buddhist monasteries. In November, authorities announced that his arrest on multiple criminal charges had been formally approved, including the misappropriation and embezzlement of project funds and temple assets.
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The former abbot was also accused of “seriously violating” the vow of celibacy required of Buddhist monks by maintaining “improper relations” with multiple women and fathering at least one child.