China’s Confucius Foundation is taking suggestions for its creation of a “standard portrait” of Confucius, which is scheduled to be released in September in order to “give him a single, recognizable identity around the world.”
[quote]The CCF unveiled a draft sculpture of Confucius yesterday in Jinan, capital of east China’s Shandong Province, to solicit suggestions for the final version of the portrait.
“A symbol of Chinese history and culture, Confucius is widely known around the world. A standard portrait is needed so that different countries could have the same image of him,” said CCF General Secretary Zhang Shuhua.
The sculpture depicts Confucius as an old man with a long beard, broad mouth and big ears. He wears a robe and crosses his hands on his chest.
The draft, based on the painting of Confucius by Wu Daozi of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), was created with advice from Confucian scholars, historians, artists and his descendants.
The new portrait would set the standard criteria for the image of Confucius, who had been represented in different ways when Chinese were presenting statues in foreign countries, said Zhang.
Professor Hu Xijia, a member of the sculpture design group, said, “We want to show a Confucius that exists in people’s minds, who is a kind, sagacious and respectful person.”
Hu’s group started the work in January and he said they were open to good suggestions from anywhere in the world. [/quote]
from Confucius’ standard portrait to be issued, Shanghai Daily, June 14, 2006