Shaolin Temple in Central China's Henan Province Photo: VCG

On Tuesday morning, Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Shaolin kung fu, issued a statement refuting claims that its abbot, Shi Yongxin, has passed on his role to his son, Shi Zheng'en.

Recently, some self-media accounts alleged that Shi Yongxin had transferred his responsibilities to his son, showing a photo of the two standing together.

Shaolin Temple's official account on Sina Weibo dismissed these rumors, labeling them as "malicious fabrications" and "serious defamation against Abbot Shi Yongxin."

"Such false information not only tarnishes the abbot's reputation but also damages the reputation of Shaolin Temple and the image of its monastic community. Furthermore, they intend to undermine Chinese Buddhism and manipulate the emotions of believers, which has sparked outrage within the Buddhist community domestically and internationally," read the statement.

According to the statement, Shaolin Temple and Shi Yongxin have reported the case to police to take legal action against those responsible for these rumors.

The hashtag "#Shaolin Temple debunks the rumor of Shi Yongxin's son inheriting mantle" went viral on Sina Weibo Tuesday, garnering over 20 million views and about 2,000 comments within a day.

Global Times