A poster featuring ancient Chinese figures Confucius and Laozi dressed in business suits with ties in Nanchang, capital city of southern China's Jiangxi Province. [Photo: Information Times]

Passersby all stopped to look at a poster featuring ancient Chinese figures Confucius and Laozi, dressed business suits with ties.

Information Times reported the "creative" promotion idea in Nanchang, capital city of southern China's Jiangxi Province.

The image of Confucius and Laozi dressed in western suits seems a bit strange, especially with their long beards and eyebrows. But one manager of the clothing company, Mr. Huang, is very proud of this poster, saying it is the first poster of this kind. He said the company was not only selling clothes but also "spirits" and "culture".

However, most citizens protest this way of promotion. Mr. Yang is one of them, saying the posters spoil traditional culture by making improper usage of famous ancient people.

Officials from Jiangxi Administration of Industry and Commerce said there were no laws to regulate the use of "ancient celebrities as models", but this clothing company is obviously acting against commercial morality.

(CRI December 8, 2007)