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User:Homunculus

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"Painting from the Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 AD), Museum of Fine Arts, Boston"


Skeletons lie scattered

Across Qinghai's vastness

New ghosts cry, "Unjust!"

Old ghosts merely weep.

—Du Fu (712-770)

Editing interests

My interests are all oriented around China topics, both contemporary and ancient. I have noticed that many articles in both these areas are undeveloped, and I am pleased with the prospect of contributing my time and expertise. There also seems to be lively and intelligent debate on some articles (while others are quiet), and the prospect of working with like-minded individuals on an intellectual project like this appeals to me.

My main fields of expertise are Chinese politics and history (the latter is my passion, the former my profession), but I also have an enduring if somewhat more amateur interest in Taoism, Chinese arts, Greek philosophy, and Roman poetry. My contributions in these areas are deliberately minimal, but sometimes my irrepressible love of Plato and Ovid may find manifestation on this encyclopedia.

Work

Here I will list my current and future work. These are topics I'm interested in, and which appear to need research and input. I'm putting all this here as a public memory jogger.

Culture, religion, etc.: Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio; History of Falun Gong; Journey to the West

People: Pu Songling; Jean Pasqualini; Sidney Rittenberg; Wang Shiwei; Sun Wukong; Zhu Bajie; Sha Wujing; Wu Cheng'en; Xuanzang (fictional character); Yuan Shikai; Zhang Xianliang

Politics and law: Academica Sinica; Government of the People's Republic of China; Central Military Commission (People's Republic of China); Propaganda in the People's Republic of China; Law in the People's Republic of China; Chinese Nationalist, Communist Party of China, Judicial system of the People's Republic of China

Historical: Yan'an Rectification Movement; Jiangxi Soviet; Warlord Era; Republican Era of China

Human rights: Black jails; Weiquan movement; plus a variety of articles on Chinese dissidents, Weiquan lawyers, and on manifestations of popular contestation in general.

I've recently made ambitious proposals for several pages, including the Communist Party of China, Judicial system of the People's Republic of China, and Freedom of religion in the People's Republic of China, and Bo Xilai. Maybe one day I will find time to follow through.

Articles I have created

Other articles to which I have made substantial contributions

Short notes on my editing philosophy

  • I have considerable faith that truth, or something like it, can be arrived at by following the best available evidence. In my contributions I attempt to ensure that edits are made based on evidence and discussion, not politics.
  • In editing contested articles, I do not entertain arguments to moderation.
  • I attempt to work in service of facts and neutrality, but just as important, to humanity. It is all too easy to forget that what we write on this encyclopedia often has bearing on the lives of human beings, so I try to preserve sensitivity to this.
  • I regret to say that the longer I am on Misplaced Pages, the more I agree that competency should be required.

Minutiae