Shi Yongxin

Shi Yongxin (Chinese: 释永信; Pinyin: Shì Yǒngxìn) is the current principal abbot of the Shaolin Temple. He is the thirteenth successor after Shi Xingzheng. 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 and also the first Chinese monk ever to get a MBA degree.shaolin shi yongxin master shifu Yongxin is not a martial abbot, but a clerical one, and his duties are scholarly which involves presiding over large ceremonies at Shaolin; martial abbot Shi De Li is responsible for training monks at the Shaolin Temple.The Venerable Abbot Shi Yong Xin shifu is renowned for his work in promoting Shaolin Buddhist culture, his writings as a scholar, and for his continuous efforts of restoring the Shaolin Temple. 
==Biography==
Yongxin was born in Anhui Province in Yingshang County. 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.
==Clothing==
Per tradition in Chinese Buddhism, Yongxin wears the robes of the abbot, a yellow robe with a red sash, called a patriarch's robe. It is forbidden to wear if one is not a high ranking monastic, which is applicable in all Chinese Buddhist sects (though it is not illegal, wearing such a robe without proper training is considered offensive towards the Buddhist community).
==Criticism==
Yongxin has been widely criticized in the online martial arts and Buddhist 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[1]. Most of the criticisms involve gifts he has accepted such as a special robeLuxury cassock triggers harsh criticism on Shaolin Temple worth 160,000 Yuan ($23,439 USD)Shaolin Abbot's "purchase" of 160,000-yuan robe receives netizens' criticism - People's Daily in 2009 and a Volkswagen Touareg 4x4Shaolin Kung-fu Monks vs 'Old School' Dabei Monks worth over 1,000,000 Yuan Dispute over sports car for China's most famous monk - China Daily in 2006. Other criticisms involve the way the temple itself is operated. After paying admission, visitors to the temple are asked to pay exorbitant fees to burn incense (as high as 6000 yuan or $770 USD).The Dark Side of Shaolin Temple
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 traditional calligraphy.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.Image of the letter on the hacked websiteHacker ridicules Shaolin abbot - Shanghai DailyShaolin 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 thus is good for everybody 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." China Exclusive: Out of jungles - People's Daily
===Shaolin Inc===
In the documentary by NGC called Secrets of the kung fu temple, it is said that Shi Yongxin is also the head of Shaolin Incorporated, a multimillion-dollar corporation that apparently specialises in tourism, merchandising, world tours, and Shaolin franchises in the US and Europe.Shaolin Inc
==Criticism==
==See also==
* Chan Buddhism (Zen)
== References ==
==External links==
*Official website of Shaolin Temple
*Shaolin Temple China
Category:Zen Buddhist monks and priests
Category:Chinese Buddhist monks
Category:Chinese Zen Buddhists