Ex-Monk Sues Daughter He Abandoned For RM118,000 After Savings Run Out

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A 54-year-old man in China has sparked a fierce online debate after suing his daughter for 200,000 yuan (about RM118,000) in parental support

According to The Paper, the man, identified only by his surname Xie, made the demand after his savings ran out following a decade-long journey as a monk, forcing him to return to secular life.

However, a court dismissed his lawsuit, ruling that he had not lost his ability to work and was still capable of earning a living.

Xie took a leave from his job in 2010 due to work-related stress to practise Buddhism. By 2014, he had quit his job and divorced his wife to fully commit to his spiritual path.

During the divorce, he gave his daughter a house worth around 2.2 million yuan (about RM1.3 million) and 500,000 yuan (about RM294,000) in cash as child support.

Xie kept approximately 500,000 yuan for himself to travel across the country studying Buddhism, surviving on small allowances or no income at all.

After 10 years, with his funds depleted, he ended up living in a cave at one point, suffered a mental breakdown, and eventually left his monastic life

Currently renting a flat and relying on financial help from relatives, Xie argued that he is too old and lacks job skills to earn money, and insisted that his daughter should support him.

The daughter, who reportedly earns 10,000 yuan (about RM5,900) a month, offered a smaller monthly allowance but withdrew it after her father allegedly spoke harshly to her in court.