File photo of Shi Yongxin, abbot of renowned Shaolin Temple.
China's religious authorities on Thursday demanded truth "as soon as possible" over accusations that Shi Yongxin, abbot of renowned Shaolin Temple, was an "embezzler and womanizer".
Shi Zhengyi, the accuser, came up with a series of allegations on the Internet saying said the abbot was an "embezzler and womanizer" with illegitimate children.
The list of accusations, which have gone viral on Chinese social media, included documents purportedly showing that Shi Yongxin was kicked out of Shaolin in the 1980s following a theft.
The monastery denies all the allegations and has reported Shi Zhengyi to the police for "fabricated and malicious insults and libel."
Shi Yongxin now serves as abbot of Shaolin Temple in central China's Henan Province and vice-chairman of the Buddhist Association of China (BAC).
A spokesperson with the State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) told Xinhua it has "paid great attention" to such reports, stressing the accusations "concerns the image and reputation of Chinese Buddhism."
SARA has asked Henan provincial religious department to investigate into the accusations.
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A spokesperson with the State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) told Xinhua it has "paid great attention" to reports about Shi Yongxin, abbot of Shaolin Temple in central China's Henan Province and vice-chairman of the Buddhist Association of China (BAC).
SARA has asked Henan provincial religious department to verify the accusations against the abbot.
Shi Zhengyi, the accuser, posted a series of allegations on the Internet and said Shi Yongxin was an "embezzler and womanizer" with illegitimate children.
The list of accusations included documents purportedly showing that Shi Yongxin was kicked out of Shaolin in the 1980s following a theft.
The monastery denies all the allegations and has reported Shi Zhengyi to the police for "fabricated and malicious insults and libel."
Meanwhile, the BAC on Thursday called for "the truth as soon as possible."
The accusation "concerns the image and reputation of Chinese Buddhism," the BAC said in a statement.
