On May 29, the Xinxiang Intermediate People’s Court of Henan Province publicly delivered its first-instance verdict. The defendant, Liu Yingcheng (formerly known by the Buddhist name Shi Yongxin), was found guilty of embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, accepting bribes as a non-state functionary, and offering bribes. For these multiple offenses, he was sentenced to a combined fixed-term imprisonment of 24 years and fined 3.5 million yuan. According to Xinhua News Agency, the court found that taking advantage of his positions as abbot of the Shaolin Temple and chairman of the Shaolin Charity and Welfare Foundation, Liu Yingcheng — acting alone or with others — illegally appropriated more than 131 million yuan of the institution’s property from 2003 to 2025. Between 2012 and 2022, he misappropriated over 151 million yuan of institutional funds for his own personal use, with more than three months elapsing without repayment. Starting in 2006, he provided assistance to others in Shaolin Temple construction projects and related operations, illegally accepting property and money worth more than 11.63 million yuan. From 1995 to 2022, he offered bribes to state officials amounting to over 5.67 million yuan. The case was heard in court on May 25. After the verdict was announced, Liu Yingcheng stated he accepted the sentence and would not appeal.
The court determined that the amounts involved in his crimes of embezzlement, misappropriation, and bribe-taking were all particularly huge, while the bribery offense was especially egregious. His criminal conduct spanned more than two decades, resulting in serious harm and a negative social impact, warranting a harsh penalty under the law. However, after his arrest, Liu Yingcheng truthfully confessed and voluntarily disclosed some criminal facts not yet uncovered by the authorities, showing remorse and acceptance of guilt. The court took these factors into account in its comprehensive sentencing. That same day, the Buddhist Association of China also issued a statement regarding the court’s ruling. Shi Yongxin was once one of China’s most prominent religious figures; under his leadership, the Shaolin Temple gained fame both at home and abroad through the martial arts performances and commercial operations he promoted.