As has already been theorized, the Guānyīn xuányì 観音玄義 may be regarded as a text presented as a lecture by Zhìyǐ 智顗（538-597） and documented by Zhāng’ān Guàndǐng 章安灌頂 （561-632）. Therefore, it can be assumed that this document, while presenting the ideas of Zhìyǐ, also contains the ideas of Guàndǐng.
The theory that as bodhisattvas Śākyamuni and Maitreya aspired to enlightenment at the same time and passed nine kalpas together in training, which is preached in the Guānyīn xuányì, can be said to be one of the theories showing the literary characteristic of Guàndǐng’s record of Zhìyǐ’s preaching. In other words, this theory is unique to the Guānyīn xuányì and differs from Zhìyǐ’s view.
In this short paper, I clarify the contents of the theory mentioned above and propose that it can be regarded as being based on Guàndǐng’s thought.
