User:PericlesofAthens

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This user made significant contributions to Augustus, a featured article.
This user made significant contributions to Choe Bu, a featured article.
This user made significant contributions to Giovanni Villani, a featured article.
This user made significant contributions to Ming Dynasty, a featured article.
This user made significant contributions to Shen Kuo, a featured article.
This user made significant contributions to Society of the Song Dynasty, a featured article.
This user made significant contributions to Song Dynasty, a featured article.
This user made significant contributions to Tang Dynasty, a featured article.
This user made significant contributions to Technology of the Song Dynasty, a featured article.
This user made significant contributions to Tibet during the Ming Dynasty, a featured article.
This user made significant contributions to Architecture of the Song Dynasty, which is a good article.
This user made significant contributions to Culture of the Song Dynasty, which is a good article.
This user made significant contributions to Economy of the Song Dynasty, which is a good article.
This user made significant contributions to Fernão Pires de Andrade, which is a good article.
This user made significant contributions to History of the Song Dynasty, which is a good article.
This user made significant contributions to Huolongjing, which is a good article.
This user made significant contributions to Nuova Cronica, which is a good article.
This user made significant contributions to Qianling Mausoleum, which is a good article.
This user made significant contributions to Rebellion of Cao Qin, which is a good article.
This user made significant contributions to Su Song, which is a good article.
This user made significant contributions to Zhang Heng, which is a good article.
Hello, Welcome to My User Page
Spring, by the master of Greco-Roman art, Lawrence Alma-Tadema, painted in 1894, oil on canvas. Original in the Getty Museum
Spring, by the master of Greco-Roman art, Lawrence Alma-Tadema, painted in 1894, oil on canvas. Original in the Getty Museum
Spring, by the master of Greco-Roman art, Lawrence Alma-Tadema, painted in 1894, oil on canvas. Original in the Getty Museum
Spring, by the master of Greco-Roman art, Lawrence Alma-Tadema, painted in 1894, oil on canvas. Original in the Getty Museum


If earlier chroniclers of human affairs had failed to bear witness in praise of history, it might perhaps have been necessary for me to urge all readers to seek out and pay special attention to writings such as these; for certainly mankind possesses no better guide to conduct than the knowledge of the past.

-Polybius

The study of history is the best medicine for a sick mind; for in history you have a record of the infinite variety of human experience plainly set out for all to see; and in that record you can find for yourself and your country both examples and warnings; fine things to make as models, base things, rotten through and through, to avoid.

-Livy

Contents

[edit] My Introduction

My name is Eric Connor, but you can call me Pericles of Athens. I'm an American Flag of the United States of Irish, English, Swedish, Italian, and Slovenian descent. I chose this username because Pericles is one of my favorite ancient Athenian statesmen and strategos. I'm 22 years old, a senior in college, a history major at George Mason University, and mostly interested in the History of China and Chinese art. However, I enjoy reading of history and art in general, from all time periods and places. I'm an avid guitar player, and on and off I play in a band with friends (and used to play nightclubs around my area). Although I like all types of music to an extent, metal is my thing, especially thrash metal bands like Testament and Anthrax. I also like Hardcore metal acts like Sick of It All and Madball. When it comes to Hip Hop, Wu Tang Clan does it best. For a greater understanding of who I am and what my staple sense of humor is, go to "Random Thoughts" and "Musical Preferences" below under the section Miscellaneous Stuff. To view pictures that I have uploaded to wikimedia commons, click here for my gallery. For a list of my minor edits to articles, as well as a list of all my DYK's (Did You Know?) featured on wikipedia's main page, click here.

Painting by Chinese artist Li Cheng, Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period (907-960)
Painting by Chinese artist Li Cheng, Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period (907-960)
Painting by Chinese artist Li Cheng, Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period (907-960)
Painting by Chinese artist Li Cheng, Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period (907-960)


To get things off on a good start for this user page, here is an excellent poem by the ancient Chinese poet Tao Qian (365-427 AD).



Image:Cquote1.png

The pangs of hunger drove me from my home;
with no idea of where to go
I travelled on for miles
until I reached a village,
knocked on the nearest door,
blurted out some clumsy words.

The owner understood my need
his warmth dispelled my shame
that I'd come empty-handed.

We played and sang till sunset,
the wine-cups often tilted,
with the pleasure of new-found friends
we chanted and composed verses.

I remember the story of the washerwoman.
Ashamed that I lack the skills of general Chinese,
how can I show my gratitude?
I can only repay him in the world to come.

 Image:Cquote2.png

[edit] Favorite Wiki Quote, History of gunpowder

Emperor Minghuang's Journey to Sichuan, a handscroll painted copy of a painting by Qiu Ying (1494-1552), this painting being a late Ming Dynasty reproduction of the beginning third of the 17th century.
Emperor Minghuang's Journey to Sichuan, a handscroll painted copy of a painting by Qiu Ying (1494-1552), this painting being a late Ming Dynasty reproduction of the beginning third of the 17th century.

A passage of the Chinese text Guixin Zazhi (1295 AD), reporting an enormous and catastrophic explosion at the gunpowder arsenal found at Weiyang in 1280 AD:

Formerly the artisan positions were all held by southerners (i.e. the Chinese). But they engaged in peculation, so they had to be dismissed, and all their jobs were given to northerners (probably Mongols, or Chinese who had served them). Unfortunately, these men understood nothing of the handling of chemical substances. Suddenly, one day, while sulphur was being ground fine, it burst into flame, then the (stored) fire lances caught fire, and flashed hither and thither like frightened snakes. (At first) the workers thought it was funny, laughing and joking, but after a short time the fire got into the bomb store, and then there was a noise like a volcanic eruption and the holwing of a storm at sea. The whole city was terrified, thinking that an army was approaching...Even at a distance of a hundred li tiles shook and houses trembled...The disturbance lasted a whole day and night. After order had been restored an inspection was made, and it was found that a hundred men of the guards had been blown to bits, beams and pillars had been cleft asunder or carried away by the force of the explosion to a distance of over ten li. The smooth ground was scooped into craters and trenches more than ten feet deep. Above two hundred families living in the neighborhood were victims of this unexpected disaster.

  • Needham, Volume 5, Part 7, 209-210.


[edit] My Contributions to Wikipedia

Along the River During Qingming Festival, 18th century remake of a 12th century original by Chinese artist Zhang Zeduan, located in the National Palace Museum, Taiwan. Just scroll to the left in order to see the entire image, it is worth it.
Along the River During Qingming Festival, 18th century remake of a 12th century original by Chinese artist Zhang Zeduan, located in the National Palace Museum, Taiwan. Just scroll to the left in order to see the entire image, it is worth it.
Mission Statement

[edit] Mission Statement

My mission is to party! Lol. This is me standing over a passed-out drunkard and laughing at his expense. Awesome! ...While crouching down, why the hell do I look so short in this picture? I mean, I am 5'11 in height, a couple inches taller than the drunky passed out on the floor.
My mission is to party! Lol. This is me standing over a passed-out drunkard and laughing at his expense. Awesome! ...While crouching down, why the hell do I look so short in this picture? I mean, I am 5'11 in height, a couple inches taller than the drunky passed out on the floor.

But seriously, my main goal here is to improve all Chinese-history related articles on Wikipedia.org, since many are lacking in quality and even existence.

Along with the many articles I have edited here on English wikipedia, I also have a goal of improving China-History related images for all wikipedias, not just English, to enjoy and employ in articles. Therefore, I have created my very own user profile for Wikimedia Commons, where I have created many pictures that can be used for all branches of wiki. Have a look, but don't blame me if you trap yourself there for about an hour staring at old art and artifacts (if you're into that sort of thing). I also maintain my own freewebs.com site dedicated to the History of Science and Technology in China.

WikiProject History of China This user is a member of WikiProject Chinese history, a WikiProject which aims to develop and expand Wikipedia's articles on the History of China. Please feel free to join us!
Awards and DYKs

[edit] Awards and DYKs

For a list of all my did you knows featured on wiki's main page, click here for my sub-page.

The Golden Wiki Award
Few editors write DYKs. Fewer write GAs. And fewer still write FAs. I myself have been an editor here for almost two years and I've only managed to write one GA and two or three DYKs. Many of our colleagues never even achieve that. But not only do you write all three types of articles, you do it on a regular basis, and in one of the most neglected sections of the encyclopedia. Your contributions are of a professional level of excellence, both comprehensive and concise, yet fascinating and engrossing. Your collection of Song Dynasty articles remains one of the most remarkable accomplishments in Wikipedia's history. Only the featured topic on the Solar system, crafted by many editors over a long stretch of time, rivals this feat.

And yet you never lose your cool or your edge. Always friendly and diplomatic, you've proved refreshingly receptive and thoughtful towards suggestions for improvement and article critique. Your ability to consistently produce consistently fantastic content, escaping the drama and hubbub other prolific editors seem to find themselves in, while maintaining a level of scholarship that makes a fellow history major go "Damn...", you've become an example for other Wikipedians, including this one, to follow.

I often hear people criticize Wikipedia's content - its systemic biases, its tragic imbalance towards video games and entertainment, its inaccuracies and mistakes. In these cases, I'm proud to be able to point to your contributions and prove them wrong. For this, not to mention everything else I've mentioned, you most clearly deserve this award. Hemlock Martinis (talk) 17:48, 17 March 2008 (UTC)
The Featured Article Medal
I award the prestigious Featured Article Medal to Eric for promoting several articles to the Featured Article status. Masterpiece2000 (talk) 14:34, 29 March 2008 (UTC)
The Buddha Barnstar
For creating Wikiproject Tibet's first featured article, I award you this Buddha Barnstar. Gimme danger (talk) 16:33, 16 May 2008 (UTC)
The Tibetan Award of Excellence and Compassion
For your outstanding work at writing a brilliant article to FA standard and giving us the gift of the first Tibetan FA on wikipedia.. Hereby I present you this coveted award. The Bald One is proud of you, Much deserved. ♦Blofeld of SPECTRE♦ $1,000,000? 20:35, 16 May 2008 (UTC)
The Good Article Medal of Merit 
For outstanding contributions: As of today's date, PericlesofAthens has taken six articles to WP:GA, one of which has gone on to WP:FA. Good on you! Ling.Nut 01:58, 11 June 2007 (UTC)
The Tireless Contributor Barnstar
I award you this barnstar in recognition of your [tireless] contributions to Song Dynasty, most notably for being the driving force behind its promotion to GA status. Well done! Cliff smith 23:10, 2 May 2007 (UTC)
The Epic Barnstar
Awarded to Pericles for his superb work on olde Chinese history....Blnguyen (bananabucket) 07:41, 3 June 2008 (UTC)
The Epic Barnstar
On the behalf of WP:CHINA, I award you this barnstar for your quality contributions to various Chinese history-related articles, and the effort in bringing them to higher status! (AQu01rius • Talk) 04:05, 7 May 2007 (UTC)
The Good Article Medal of Merit 
I, VanTucky, award you PericlesofAthens, this barnstar for your excellent work on multiple Good Articles related to the Tang and Song Dynasties. VanTucky (talk) 04:18, 9 August 2007 (UTC)
The Excellent Userpage Award
Your Userpage is like, 99.999999999% perfect! That is why I am giving you this award. * --RayquazaDialgaWeird2210 (talk) 16:52, 25 March 2008 (UTC)
Articles Edited/Expanded

[edit] Articles Edited and Expanded

A-O 11th century, Antonio de Morga, Armillary sphere, Augustus, Bao Qingtian, Cai Lun, Cavalry, Chang'an, Chinese astronomy, Chinese literature, Choe Bu, Compass, Diplomacy, Fernão Pires de Andrade, Flamethrower, Foreign relations of Imperial China, Gazetteer, Giovanni Villani, Grand Canal of China, Greek fire, Gunpowder warfare, Han Dynasty, Heian period, Horse collar, History of cartography, History of ferrous metallurgy, History of firearms, History of geography, History of geometry, History of gunpowder, History of painting, History of the Ming Dynasty, Land mine, Liu Ji, Liuhe Pagoda, Ma Jun, Mineralogy, Ming Dynasty, Naval history of China, Naval warfare, Nuova Cronica, Odometer

P-Z Pagoda of Fogong Temple, Paper, Pei Xiu, Pontoon bridge, Qianling Mausoleum, Rafael Perestrello, Science in the Middle Ages, Siege, Shang Dynasty, Shen Kuo, Solar eclipse, Song Dynasty, Song Yingxing, South Pointing Chariot, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Su Shi, Su Song, Sylvester II, Tang Dynasty, Tibet during the Ming Dynasty, Timeline of Chinese history, Tong Guan, Trip hammer, Wang Chong, Wang Zhen (official), War elephant, Wheelbarrow, Xu Guangqi, Yang Hui, Yi Xing, Zhang Sixun, Zhang Heng
Articles that I've Created

[edit] Articles I've Created

A-O Anselmus de Boodt, Beisi Pagoda, Category:Economic history of Italy, Category:Historical controversies, Category:Italian merchants, Category:Korean historians, Category:Korean travel writers, Category:Social history of China, Category:State of Chu, Category:State of Qi, Chinese exploration, Choe Bu, Dream Pool Essays, Du Shi, Fawang Temple, Four occupations, Fragrant Hills Pagoda, Guoqing Temple, Hua Sui, Huolongjing, Iron Pagoda, Jia Dan, Jiao Yu, Jiaohe Ruins, Kenneth R. Bartlett, Liaodi Pagoda, Lin Tinggui, Lingxiao Pagoda, Lingyan Temple, Nathan Sivin, Nuova Cronica,

P-Z Pagoda of Bailin Temple, Pagoda of Cishou Temple, Pagoda of Fugong Temple, Pagoda of Tianning Temple (Beijing), Pagoda of Tianning Temple (Changzhou), Pizhi Pagoda, Puning Temple, Putuo Zongcheng Temple, Qianling Mausoleum, Qizu Pagoda, Rafael Perestrello, Rebellion of Cao Qin, Return to the Field (rhapsody), Shattered Realm, Sunshu Ao, Tibet during the Ming Dynasty, Wei Pu, Wujing Zongyao, Wuzhun Shifan, Xie Huan, Ximen Bao, Xumi Pagoda, Yan Zhitui, Yu Hao, Zhang Han (disambiguation), Zhang Han (general), Zhang Han (official), Zhou Jichang, Zhu Yu (author)
Articles Created in Foreign Languages

[edit] Foreign Language Articles

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Shen Kuo (French Wikipedia), Shen Kuo (Spanish Wikipedia), Shen Kuo (Italian Wikipedia)
Minor Edits

[edit] Minor Edits

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Click here to see all of my minor edits, including additional pictures inserted into articles and edits to individual years.
Picture's I've Taken

[edit] Pictures I've Taken

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For my gallery of pictures I've taken from the Freer Gallery of Art and from book sources, click here.


[edit] Miscellaneous stuff at the end of my user page

Random Thoughts, Humor, and Insanity
Are you peeing your pants yet? I thought so.
Are you peeing your pants yet? I thought so.
  • You know you're not really Peter Pan, don't you? This is only a dream. When you wake up, you'll just be Peter Banning - a cold, selfish man who drinks too much, who's obsessed with success, and runs and hides from his wife and children.

^ A line from Captain James Hook (Dustin Hoffman); Hook was my favorite movie when I was a kid, but...not so much now. Lol.

  • As a drug user, you get used to things like seeing your dead grandmother crawling up your leg with a knife in her teeth, but nobody should be asked to handle this trip.

^ A line from Raoul Duke (Johnny Depp) while he enters the Bazooka Circus, high on ether; Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is my favorite movie as an adult. Hells yeah, giggidy giggidy.

I think it is good to pause here and just state for the record that The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! is my favorite comedy of all time, though. Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein comes in at a very, very close second in my opinion.

“ I do love food. I love eating late at night too. You know, you're not suppose to eat late at night, but then again you're not suppose to drink booze in the morning. And apparently you're never supposed to smoke crack...Well whatever! I'm not training for the Olympics! I'm sorry but after an entire hour of work, what if I want to unwind with a burger and a crack pipe. If I do that every night does that make me some sort of crackhead?
"This guy's a crackhead!" "That's why he's so pale!"
 ”
Train wreck at Montparnasse (1895), by Studio Lévy and Sons. This picture never ceases to amaze me. The clean-up job must have sucked, but hey, what a sight.
Train wreck at Montparnasse (1895), by Studio Lévy and Sons. This picture never ceases to amaze me. The clean-up job must have sucked, but hey, what a sight.
  • Are you Sancho? No, you are not Sancho. I...am Sancho.

^ Hah. I love that line, from Trey Parker and Matt Stone's Orgazmo.

Image:Cquote1.png

What else should I be
All apologies
What else should I say
Everyone is gay
What else could I write
I don't have the right
What else should I be
All apologies

 Image:Cquote2.png
“ Two others remianed open-mouthed a whole minute, then dashed into the little cabin, to rush out incontinently and stand darting scared glances, with Winchesters at 'ready' in their hands. What we could see was just the steamer we were on, her outlines blurred as though she had been on the point of dissolving and a misty strip of water perhaps two feet broad around her—and that was all. The rest of the world was nowhere as far as our eyes and ears were concerned. Just nowhere. Gone, disappeared, swept off without leaving a whisper or a shadow behind. ”
Tell me, and be honest, do I look fat in this meerkat coat?
Tell me, and be honest, do I look fat in this meerkat coat?
“ The approach to this Kurtz grubbing for ivory in the wretched bush was beset by as many dangers as though he had been an enchanted princess sleeping in a fabulous castle. ”
“ "For heroes have the whole earth for their tomb; and in lands far from their own, where the column with its epitaph declares it, there is enshrined in every breast a record unwritten with no tablet to preserve it, except that of the heart." ”
  • I distinguish between maniacs and crazy people. A maniac will beat 9 people to death with a steel dildo. A crazy person will beat 9 people to death with a steel dildo, but he'll be wearing a Bugs Bunny suit at the time.

^ From George Carlin's Back in Town (1996). Stay healthy George, you're a good man.

  • Holy shit! It's the Satanic Falcon!

^ Philip Anselmo from Pantera, having fun on the road.

I could use one of these right about now. German beer rules. Ever tried Kölsch? I swear on my left testicle that there's nothin smoother.
I could use one of these right about now. German beer rules. Ever tried Kölsch? I swear on my left testicle that there's nothin smoother.
  • Life is a beautiful struggle, people search through the rubble for a suitable hustle, some people using their noodle, some people using their muscle, some people put it all together, make it fit like a puzzle, say it with me now...

^I Try, by Talib Kweli.

I have mad respect for Tony Iommi from Black Sabbath, rock on brother.

  • When it comes to drinking games, beer pong is the best, while the game speed-quarters comes in at a close 2nd.
  • Hey guys! Can't we all just get along?

^Probably someone who totally got blown away shortly after saying this.

Is there some sort of astronomical scale to measure how funny Vincent Price is in the movie Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine?

Italian food has to be my favorite of all the ethnic types of foods.

Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert crack me up. I saw Jon Stewart live giving a stand up comedy performance with Mike Birbiglia in Maryland last summer. That was cool.

And to pay homage to the past, Strangers with Candy rules! You may disagree, and to that I would say, "Talk your monkey ass off." Quoting Principal Blackman, of course.

  • Kazakhstan, the greatest country in the world! All other countries are run by little girls. Kazakhstan, number one, maker of potassium; all other nations have inferior potassium.

^I believe this needs no introduction, and if you are unfamiliar with it, you were probably born before 1940. Lol.

??? A cow on a pole...with horns? I'm speechless.
??? A cow on a pole...with horns? I'm speechless.
  • I hate to do this to you, city of Baltimore, Maryland, but this video is just too damn funny: my favorite video found online at youtube.com is this hilarious 80s car commercial spoof. Warning: foul and adult language! But funny. In a way it totally reminds me of Will Farrel in the movie Anchorman, when he says "Go **** yourself, San Diego." Hah.
  • My favorite response to any wiki talk page ever is here.

And on a final note, I am truly embarrassed that the health care system of the tiny, resource-lacking nation of Cuba is able to provide universal health care when the most powerful nation on earth, the United States of America, does not. The sooner that American health care insurance companies crash and burn, the sooner we'll be safe from harms way.
My Musical Preferences
Metal, Hardcore, and Punk
Scott Ian playing live, guitarist from Anthrax.
Scott Ian playing live, guitarist from Anthrax.

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Blues and Jazz

Ray Charles, Miles Davis, B. B. King, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, John Coltrane, etc.

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Other

A Perfect Circle, Beethoven, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Minibosses, Mozart, Paco de Lucia, Primus, Radio Head, etc.
This user is a member of the
Three Kingdoms WikiProject.
This user is a contact for the
Military history WikiProject.