Money, power, and sex... A Buddhist monk in China committed a massive crime.

News Topical, Digital Desk : China has launched a crackdown on powerful Buddhist monks suspected of misusing temple funds for personal wealth, part of an effort to regulate religious institutions and bring transparency to the country's growing "temple economy."

The Asian country's temple economy is growing rapidly and the sector is expected to reach 100 billion yuan by the end of this year, reports The Guardian.

History of temples in China

The history of temples in China has been turbulent. Many monasteries lost their wealth in the 1950s, and many temples suffered damage in the 1960s and 1970s. With economic reforms in the 1980s, temples regained popularity and became dependent on government-supported tourism for their survival.

Investigation launched against Monk Shi

The Shaolin Temple, in particular, emerged as a prominent symbol of this trend and became a money-making hub for the monks. The crackdown came after it was discovered that the Shaolin Monastery's chief abbot, Shi Yongxin, had transformed the 1,500-year-old monastery into a commercial empire worth hundreds of millions of yuan.

In July, Xi, nicknamed the "CEO Monk," was investigated for allegedly misappropriating funds and fathering illegitimate children with multiple women. Within two weeks, he was removed from his position and stripped of his monkhood.

In 2015, the Shaolin Temple also faced criticism for a proposal to build a temple complex at a cost of approximately $300 million, which was to include a golf course, a hotel, and a kung fu school.

What did Monk Shi say?

During an interview with the BBC that same year, he was questioned about allegations of corruption and relationships with women. He denied these claims, saying, "If there were any problems, they would have come to light long ago."

Many monks have been accused before.

Shi isn't the only monk accused of using temple property for personal gain. Earlier in August, a video of monks at Hangzhou's Lingyin Temple counting large sums of money went viral.

In July, monk Wu Bing was stripped of his title and investigated for allegedly diverting donations meant for needy women and children for his own luxuries.

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