Shi Yongxin, the abbot of Shaolin Temple who has been the subject of an online attack.[ZHU XINGXIN/CHINA DAILY]

Shaolin Temple in Henan province has condemned an online attack against its abbot last week as slander and has turned to the police for help.

Targeted by salacious accusations in the past that the police confirmed to be false, the abbot, Shi Yongxin, 50, has now been accused of paying for sex with several women, including Buddhist nuns and some of his female followers.

The accuser, using the name Shi Zhengyi and claiming to be a disciple of the temple, posted an article last week that created an uproar on the Internet, beginning on Saturday.

But a staff member at the temple's website, who asked not to be named, said there is no disciple by that name.

"This is absurd," the staff member said. "Someone must have an ulterior motive."

"Such rumors have come up before, and the allegations have seriously affected the abbot's reputation. So this time the temple chose to report it to the police," he said.

The abbot was quoted by Southern Metropolis Daily as saying that he would not be defending himself against the allegations.