[1] The scholar Morten Schlütter calls Qingliao, along with his fellow student Hongzhi Zhengjue, "the most illustrious representative of the Caodong tradition in the Song [Dynasty]."

Multiple sources contain a story about Qingliao regarding an event that took place after he received dharma transmission from his teacher Danxia Zichun.

Daohe offered to allow Qingliao to become the abbot of the monastery, inherit his robe, and serve as his heir.

This story has historical significance because it suggests that Qingliao could have accepted Daohe’s offer to essentially switch heirs, indicating that teacher-student transmission was probably more flexible than often thought.

Zhenxie Qingliao is also remembered as the initial target of the koan advocate Dahui Zonggao's attacks on silent illumination-style meditation.