Taojilüe 陶紀略 (Taoji 陶記)

Taojilüe 陶紀略, also known as Taoji 陶記, is the oldest Chinese book on porcelain. It was written during the late Southern Song period 南宋 (1127-1279) by Jiang Qi 蔣祁. In older times it was believed that Jiang Qi's book was written during the Yuan period 元 (1279-1368) because the local gazetteer (Qianlong) Fuliang xian zhi (乾隆)浮樑縣志 says so, but it was proved that the book was a hundred years older.

The text, finished in the 1320s, gives a brief overview of the organization of the porcelain production in Jingdezhen 景德鎮, Jiangxi, with chapters on the division of labour, types of vessels and objects, raw materials and their origins, the construction of kilns, types of products, colours, decorations and glazing and ways of distribution and marketing. Concerning the issue of sales, it can be seen that at the time, Jingdezhen did still not have a monopoly on porcelain production, but was competing with the kilns of Linchuan 臨川, Jianyang 建陽 and Nanfeng 南豐. The book is an essential document for studying the porcelain production in Jingdezhen in the 13th century.

The book is quoted extensively in the local gazetteers Jiangxi tongzhi 江西通志, Raozhou fu zhi 饒州府志 and (Kangxi) Fuliang xian zhi (康熙)浮樑縣志.