The Communist Party chief of Henan province has made an impromptu visit to the famed Shaolin Temple, whose former abbot was rounded up on corruption charges earlier this year, and called for a clear boundary between the temple and business.Liu Ning made the comments during his first inspection of the temple on Sunday, nearly five months after former abbot Shi Yongxin – known as “the CEO monk” – was abruptly removed, according to a report by the official Henan Daily.In an “in-depth exchange” with new abbot Shi Yinle, Liu said he hoped that the temple’s new leadership would “return to the true teachings of the religion, and safeguard the reputation and image of Shaolin Temple”.

The inspection was made without prior notification to the temple, according to the report.

Shi Yinle was transferred from the White Horse Temple, also in Henan, to lead the Shaolin Temple in July, right after Shi Yongxin’s removal.

Shi Yongxin served as abbot of what is one of the world’s most famous Buddhist monasteries for more than 25 years. Authorities said in November that he was suspected of several crimes including misappropriation and embezzlement of project funds and temple assets.