If Confucius could see the controversy his name is generating more than 2,400 years after his death, the epitome of peace and good manners would probably say: "Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated."

Earlier this month, actor Pu Cunxin said he refused to play the philosopher in a biopic because of issues with the script. He also called on everyone to fight the idea of showing Confucius as a martial arts practitioner.

Hu Mei, the film's director, responded by saying she never invited Pu to play the role. She also claimed her leading character would not be made to show kungfu moves. But according to historical records, she says, the revered thinker did know how to drive a carriage, was good at archery, and was a war commander.

However, this did nothing to cool the debate, which actually went up a notch when rumors that Chow Yun-fat would play Confucius began to do the rounds last month.

Chow, known for a number of gangster roles in John Woo's hard-boiled films and for playing kungfu master in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," himself said at one point that it was not appropriate for him to don a scholarly robe.

Despite these concerns and criticisms, Hu started filming late March - and has cast Chow as Confucius.

"I think Chow has proved his acting skills well in 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' and 'Anna and the King,'" Hu says. "He can play any character."

The $22 million project, the first-ever film on Confucius, will follow his life from the time he was 17 years old.

Concern over who will play the ancient scholar is not without basis. Confucius, who lived from 551 to 479 BC, is widely respected as a great thinker and educator.

His teachings on moral probity, a student's duties and how to rule a country have a profound impact not only in China, but also in many other Asian countries, such as Japan and South Korea.

The question is, if Chow does not look like Confucius, who does?

Chow Yun-fat pays his respects at the Confucius Temple in Beijing before the start of the film's shooting in late March.

A TV show Documenting China conducted a viewer survey in 2006 on how they thought Confucius looked. About 60 percent said they envisaged him as thin and short while 40 percent visualized him as stout and short.

In "The Records of the Grand Historian," or "Shiji," a historical account of the period 109-91 BC by Sima Qian, Confucius is described as having an unusual look - with a head that was somewhat depressed in the center and raised on the sides.

"Shiji" also describes the adult Confucius as being about 1.9m tall in today's measurements, giving him the height of an average basketball player. The book also cites someone who ran into Confucius as saying he was "tall and slim, with a pale green complexion."

In "Kongcongzi," a book written around 2,000 years ago, Confucius had a slight hunchback and long arms.

"Zhuangzi," a classic on Taosim, mentions Confucius' upper body as longer than the lower one.

Most portraits of Confucius seen today are based on the depiction by Wu Daozi, a painter of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). The philosopher is shown as a tall old man sporting a long beard. He looks learned and amiable.

In September 2006, the Confucius Federation released a "standard portrait of Confucius". While still based on the painting by Wu Daozi, the philosopher is portrayed as a gentle old man in a robe, with a square face, broad mouth, big ears and long beard.

It created quite a stir. Some slammed it saying every one has his or her own conception of Confucius and the idea of a "standard portrait" is meaningless.

Some felt the federation was just out to make money as it claimed the portrait's copyright and reportedly said it would charge those who made use of the image.

Whether or not Chow makes a convincing Confucius remains to be seen, but director Hu is ready for all reactions.

"It is impossible to avoid controversy when you are making a film abut Confucius," she says. "This is the first film about Confucius, making it a double-edged sword. On the one hand, no one is totally confident criticizing my choice as none of them has seen Confucius; on the other, everybody is deeply concerned about this film, which is kind of stressful."

(China Daily, April 9, 2009)