The China Confucius Fund Association said on Wednesday that it would solicit the public for a designing scheme on a historically true, vivid image of Confucius, the ancient Chinese philosopher. The result will be publicized in June.

Deputy secretary general of the China Confucius Fund Association Wang Daqian told reporters that the campaign was launched amid a situation that there are currently various Confucius images in society, some deifying the thinker and others smearing him.

The association required the image should be drawn based on the historical facts, respect people's general impression of Confucius, and represent his typical image as a great thinker, an educationist, and an advocate of traditional Chinese culture.

The expression of the image should follow the one drawn by Wu Daozi, a famous painter in the Tang Dynasty since according to Wang, Wu Daozi's painting of Confucius image is already deeply rooted in people's heart. The image should also reflect Confucius at an age around 60 to 70.

Wang said that in the past, they didn't set a standard to Confucius image. At present, with more and more Confucius institutes being established all over the world and China having more cultural exchanges with other countries, there is a demand to set a standard for his image.

(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2006)