佛祖統紀 7.4

7.4

The appraisal says: Formerly, Zhiyi was sent by the Buddha to bestow upon our Cīnasthāna the purport of the Lotus Sūtra that he had personally heard on Vulture Peak. He thus unfolded the eight teachings and illuminated the three contemplations, giving full scope to his eloquence in preaching to accommodate those of matching capacity; this was proper. As for the responsibility of transmitting and propagating it in later generations, it was Zhang'an who attended at his right side, and with the talent of remembering everything upon a single hearing—(In ancient times Henan had Yibianzhao [One-Hearing Zhao], and Puzhou had Butingtai [Never-Listens Tai])—recorded them into treatises and commentaries to hand down to the future. His merit and virtue were nearly equal to that of Ānanda's compilation! Without Zhang'an, I fear the Way of Zhiyi would have ceased to be heard today.