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Qingyilu 清異錄 is a collection of essays on various objects and issues of interest compiled during the Five-Dynasties period 五代 (907-960) by Tao Gu 陶穀 (903-970), courtesy name Xiushi 秀實, style Jinluan Piren (or Jinluan Fouren) 金鑾否人, from Xinping 新平 in the prefecture of Binzhou 邠州 (today's Binxian 彬縣, Shaanxi). Tao Gu's original family name was Tang — he was the grandson of the regional inspector Tang Yanqian 唐彥謙 (848-915), but he changed the family name because it was tabooed, as it was homophonous to a character of the personal name of the founder of the Later Jin dynasty 後晉 (936-946), Shi Jingtang 石敬瑭 (Jin Gaozu 晉高祖, r. 936-942). When the Song dynasty 宋 (960-1279) was founded, Tao Gu was given the post of Minister of Revenue (hubu shangshu 戶部尚書).
The book of 2 juan length covers many themes of interest, almost in an encyclopaedic manner. It is divided into 38 chapters that discuss astronomy, geography, botany, cuisine, tools and implements, etc. The entire book addresses no fewer than 618 issues, each titled and accompanied by comments on quotations from literature.
The terminology used in the book is quite novel, which is why Chen Zhensun 陳振孫 (c. 1183-1262), author of the book catalogue Zhizhai shulu jieti 直齋書錄解題, believed that the book could not have been written in the tenth century but must be of a later date. This view was supported by the modern scholar Yu Jiaxin 余嘉錫 (1884-1955). However, Hu Yinglin 胡應麟 (1551—1602), along with the compilers of the imperial catalogue Siku quanshu zongmu tiyao 四庫全書總目提要, confirmed the authorship of Tao Gu.
The oldest print dates back to 1572. It was also printed by Tao Yuanzhu's 陶元柱 Xiuqunguan 修群館, Master Chen's 陳氏 Shuliuge 漱六閣, and by Chen Shixiu 陳世修 in the late 19th century in a joint edition with the book Biaoyilu 表異錄. The text appears in the series Baoyantang miji 寶顏堂秘笈, Tang-Song congshu 唐宋叢書, and Shuofu 說郛 (all in a version of 4 juan), as well as in the Siku quanshu 四庫全書 and Xiyinxuan congshu 惜陰軒叢書 (in a 2-juan version).
Secondary literature primarily concentrates on the culinary aspects of the book, which make up more than a third of the text. It includes 238 articles about wild plants, vegetables, poultry and red meats, fishes and "lower animals", wines and teas, as well as various types of dishes, dumplings and snacks. However, these chapters cannot function as a cookbook; they are more like stories about eating and drinking. They reflect what the author personally observed and heard, offering valuable insight into the historical context of Chinese cuisine during that period.
A continuation of Tao's book, Qingyi xulu 清異續錄, was composed during the Ming period 明 (1368-1644) by Li Qizhi 李琪枝 (b. 1622), courtesy name Yunlian 雲連, style Qifeng 奇峰, from Jiaxing 嘉興, Zhejiang. It has a length of 3 juan, with 17 chapters that diverge from Tao's original work. Li's text discusses astronomy, geography, the Way of the ruler (Jundao 君道), regulations for state officials, the "noble man" (Junzi 君子), women's conduct, petty matters (Yaomo 幺麼), Buddhism, Daoism, human affairs, poetry, art, the body, living, clothing, adornment, and interior life. The chapter on female conduct (Nüxing 女行) is supplemented by an appendix listing double-names of women (Funü shuangming 婦女雙名).