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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 Tang Yanqian 唐彥謙 (848-915), but he changed it because it was tabooed because it was part 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 which speak about astronomy, geography, botanic, cuisine, tools and implements, etc. The whole book talks about no less than 618 issues, each of which is given a title and is enriched with comments on quotations from literature.
The terminology of the book is quite novel, for which reason 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 cannot have been written in the tenth century but must be of later date. This opinion was backed by the modern scholar Yu Jiaxin 余嘉錫 (1884-1955). Yet Hu Yinglin 胡應麟 (1551—1602), and with him 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 from 1572. It was also printed by Tao Yuanzhu's 陶元柱 Xiuqunguan 修群館, Master Chen's Shuliuge 陳氏漱六閣, and by Chen Shixiu 陳世修 in the late 19th century in a a joint edition with the book Biaoyilu 表異錄. The text is found 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), and the Siku quanshu 四庫全書 and Xiyinxuan congshu 惜陰軒叢書 (in a 2-juan version).
Secondary literature focuses mainly on the culinary part of the book which constitutes more than a third of the text. It presents 238 articles on wild plants, vegetables, poultry and red meat, fishes and "lower animals", wines and teas, and various types of dishes, dumplings and snacks. However, these chapters cannot be used as a cookbook, but constitute stories on eating and drinking. They reflect what the author had personally seen and heard and are helpful to learn more about the historical situation of Chinese cuisine at that time.
A continuation of Tao's book, Qingyi xulu 清異續錄, was written during the Ming period by Li Qizhi 李琪枝 (b. 1622), courtesy name Yunlian 雲連, style Wifeng 奇峰, from Jiaxing 嘉興, Zhejiang. It has a length of 3 juan with 17 chapters that deviate from Tao's original. Li's book speaks about astronomy, geography, the Way of the ruler (Jundao 君道), rules for state officials, the noble man (Junzi 君子), the conduct of women, petty matters (Yaomo 幺麼; or theatre?), Buddhism, Daoism, human affairs, poetry, art, the body, living, clothes, adornment, and interior. The chapter on female conduct (Nüxing 女行) in enriched by an appendix of double-names of women (Funü shuangming 婦女雙名).