Shaolin Temple has a new abbot after monk Thich Vinh Tin is under criminal investigation

On July 29, Shaolin Temple - a symbol of Chinese Buddhism located on Mount Song, Henan province - officially appointed a new abbot, following the scandal of its predecessor, Thich Vinh Tin.

Venerable Thich An Lac will lead Shaolin Temple, replacing former abbot Thich Vinh Tin - Photo: CAIXIN

According to Sohu, the WeChat account "Official Website of Shaolin Temple" posted a notice: "According to the regulations on the appointment of abbots at Han Buddhist temples, after receiving consensus through democratic evaluation of all Buddhist monks at Shaolin Temple and completing all relevant procedures, Venerable Yin Le is respectfully invited to assume the position of abbot of Shaolin Temple."

Venerable Yin Le is the new abbot of Shaolin Temple.

Abbot Thich An Lac was born in July 1966 in Dong Bach, Ha Nam province, China and became a monk in 1982 under the guidance of monk Hai Bac at Dong Bach mountain.

He graduated from the China Buddhist Academy and worked at the Henan Provincial Buddhist Association in important roles such as Deputy Secretary General and Vice President.

Since 2003, he was assigned by the Ha Nam Buddhist Association to take charge of work at Bach Ma Pagoda - a famous ancient pagoda - and in 2005 was officially appointed as the abbot of this pagoda, ending 8 years of the pagoda without a head.

New abbot of Shaolin Temple Thich An Lac - Photo: STHEADLINE

Not only a monk, Thich An Lac was also a member of the 13th National People's Political Consultative Conference, a member of the Ethnic and Religious Committee of this committee, and is currently a delegate to the 14th National People's Congress.

On the evening of July 27, the temple management board also confirmed that Thich Vinh Tin was being investigated.

He is suspected of criminal offenses, including embezzlement of project funds and temple property, and serious violations of religious precepts by maintaining long-term illicit relationships with many women and having children. Currently, the authorities are coordinating to conduct a comprehensive investigation.

The Chinese Buddhist Association has officially revoked Thich Vinh Tin's dharma name and expelled him from the Buddhist community, meaning he is no longer considered a practitioner in the Chinese Buddhist system.

Now is the peak tourist season, Shaolin Temple is still open to visitors as usual, despite the controversy from Shi Yongxin - Photo: SOHU

In addition, social media was abuzz when an old interview with martial arts star Jet Li was suddenly dug up. In a program broadcast on CCTV in 2010, he frankly shared: "At that time, in Shaolin Temple, there were really not many monks and almost no one knew martial arts."

This statement completely overturns the image of a "martial arts holy land" that the public once associated with Shaolin Temple.

Jet Li acted in Shaolin Temple when he was 17 years old - Photo: SOHU

Jet Li revealed that in the early 1980s, due to the influence of historical upheavals, Shaolin Temple was almost deserted. At that time, there were only a few monks left: the abbot, the caretaker of the scriptures, and an old monk sweeping the yard.

The transmission of martial arts has been virtually interrupted. Classic scenes such as "carrying a bucket of water to practice" in the film Shaolin Temple (1982) are just artistic fiction, but are mistaken by many people as orthodox methods of practice.

Shanghai

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thieu-lam-tu-co-tru-tri-moi-sau-khi-su-thich-vinh-tin-bi-dieu-tra-hinh-su-20250729202430055.htm