BEIJING (Reuters) - A new, official and smiling image of Confucius has sparked（闪出火花）philosophical debate in China over whether it is needed and whether or not it looks anything like him.

Critics say the image, commissioned by the China Confucius Foundation and unveiled in a bronze statue at the weekend, is unabashed（明显的）commercialism（重商主义）and that there is no way to tell if it bears any resemblance（类同之处）to the philosopher, who was born in 551 BC.

Designers of the statue say that doesn't matter.

"What matters is his founding of Confucianism（儒教）, which features harmony and peace and constitutes（组成）the essence of Chinese culture," Xinhua news agency on Monday quoted Zhang Shuhua, secretary-general of the foundation, as saying.

The 225-cm (88-inch) bronze statue depicts（描述）Confucius as a kind, old man with a square face, long beard, broad mouth and thick brows. He wears a Chinese-style robe and his hands are crossed on his chest.

The designers referred to the most recognisable（可识别的）portrait of Confucius that dates back at least 1,100 years, Xinhua said.

Note:

上周末，中国孔子基金会为一铜制孔子像揭幕，引起人们的争议。有些人认为这个雕像与孔子本人并无相似之处。但是基金会秘书长说孔子长什么样子并不重要，重要的是孔子是儒教的创始人，雕像应以和谐、和平为原神。