Lottery tickets bearing the image and sayings of Confucius are to be sold across China despite incurring complaints that they disrespect Chinese culture since going on sale in the philosopher's home in the east of the country.

The tickets, which bear the tag "China's Who's Who: Confucius", were issued by Shandong Provincial Welfare Lottery Center and first sold in Qufu city, the birthplace of Confucius, on Jan. 25.

"It is unacceptable to link Confucianism with speculative lotteries,especially because Confucius valued morals over money," said Wang Mingzhi, a civil servant living in Jinan, capital of Shandong.

A comment on the NetEase website summed up the feeling of many with the statement: "Using Confucius to sell a lottery is spoiling Chinese culture."

But Lottery Center official Yin Chengli was surprised at the criticism. "We just wanted to sell tickets while spreading Confucius' ideas."

More than 2 million yuan worth of the 10-yuan (1.46 U.S. dollars) tickets have been sold so far, making it one of the most popular lotteries. The highest prize is 300,000 yuan and the lowest 10 yuan, and the win rate is 36.67 percent.

Confucius-themed lottories would be sold nationally, but the exact timeline would be decided by the time when each provincial lottery center gets the approval of the national lottery center, said Yin.

The backlash will not change that, said Yin.

A survey on Sina.com showed 52.7 percent of 1,882 respondents opposed the Confucius theme while 42.5 percent supported it as they believed the lottery sales revenue could be used for welfare and Confucianism was promoted as well, while 4.8 percent were undecided.

"I don't see anything inappropriate in using Confucius on the tickets. And there are precedents, such as tickets featuring figures from Outlaws of the Marsh, a classic Chinese novel, and Weifang kites," said Yin.

"We had the support of Qufu Cultural Heritage Administration Committee. They provided 10 paintings of Confucius and we selected three to put on the tickets."

As for the criticism, Yin said, "Everyone is entitled to his or her opinions, but many maybe oppose our move because they misunderstand welfare lotteries."

Lotteries in China date back to 1987 and the profits are used for welfare and charity. In 2009, the sales revenue of lottery tickets totaled 75.6 billion yuan, of which 24 billion yuan was used for the public good.

Sixty-five percent of the proceeds of the "Confucius" lotteries went to prize money, 10 percent to vendors, 5 percent for printing, logistics and promotion, and 20 percent for earthquake reconstruction in Sichuan, said Tang Nianbing, of the Shandong Provincial Welfare Lottery Center.

"It won't affect me and I will keep buying lottery tickets, Confucious or otherwise," said Li Hongsuo, a regular lottery buyer in Jinan.

Tu Keguo, a schlor of Confucianism with the Shandong Academy of Social Sceiences, was evasive when asked to comment on the debate aroused by the lotteries.

"Confucianism values righteousness over wealth. So we should realize the value of Confucianism and use it properly. For example, naming institutes after Confucius is easier to be accepted overseas," Tu said.

"On the other hand, people should know that Confucius was not a mammonist. It's important to promote the essence of Confucianism," said Tu.

The grand prize ticket reads: "Of all rituals, harmony is the most valuable."

The teachings of Confucius (551-479 BC) centre on peace and social harmony. His proverbs were collected in the "Analects" by his students.