14-11-2023 (BEIJING) A Buddhist monk named Zhang, serving as an abbot at a prominent temple in Chengdu, Sichuan, is facing public outrage and legal consequences after a honey trap exposed his illicit relationship with a female live-streamer named Cai. The situation escalated when Zhang was allegedly extorted of more than 3.2 million yuan (S$599,000) by Cai and her husband, Qian.
Zhang, also a member of the 13th Sichuan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), encountered Cai during a live-streaming event in 2020 focused on furniture promotion. The relationship deepened, leading to an alleged sexual encounter at a Chengdu hotel.
The controversy unfolded when Cai’s husband, Qian, discovered the affair and persuaded her to continue meeting with Zhang. In April 2021, they met in Fujian, where Qian filmed their interaction. The couple then used the footage for blackmail, extorting an initial sum of 2 million yuan, half of which was paid using expensive mahogany furniture.
Despite Zhang agreeing to pay an additional 3.2 million yuan in three instalments, he later reported the incident to the police, resulting in extortion charges against the couple.
The public’s response has been intense, questioning Zhang’s source of funds and expressing skepticism about temple management and monkhood. The Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs has suspended Zhang’s position at the temple, awaiting the court’s verdict. An investigation is also underway to determine if temple funds were embezzled in the extortion incident.
The scandal has fueled public discontent, with sentiments highlighting concerns about the monetization of monkhood and the broader implications for religious institutions. One observer remarked, “Today, being a monk is just a profession, with people earning a living like everyone else.” Another expressed disbelief, stating, “A monk with unclean senses, an unfaithful wife, and a husband with malicious intent. It sounds like a fictional plot. Art originates from life, and reality is even more dramatic. It’s truly absurd.”
