A new welfare lottery in China's eastern Shandong province has been causing no little controversy.

The lottery is themed around China's greatest thinker, Confucius, and started recently in Qufu City, the hometown of the ancient sage.

Just 10 RMB, or just around $1.40, gets a ticket bearing one of three classic portraits of the philosopher painted during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Indeed for some of these pictures, it's the first time shown they've been seen in public - and the originals are considered valuable collectors items.

Those behind the lottery say that profits will go towards social welfare projects for the less well off. They insist the new theme will promote Confucian culture to the public and help spread Confucian ideals.

But not everyone agrees with that. There are those who feel the prizes on offer - with the highest prize worth over $40,000 – appeal more to the emotion of greed than the higher traditions more usually associated with Confucian traditions.