四意消文是天台智顗（五三八－五九七）用以開顯《法華經》真理的獨特方法，此一方法開破了《法華經》之像，同時也彰顯了「法華經即一切佛經，一切佛經即一切法」的本來實相。這方法呈現出四意消文不僅只是一種疏釋文字的解經方法，四意消文也是一種結合理解與實踐的詮釋方法。其中，「因緣釋」及「約教釋」是一種分解的手法，在對經文之字辭句讀進行分解的過程中，彰顯了文字的無自性；本釋是法華經重要的義理，由開顯本與本不二之中，它指出了法華與本法華兩種文本之間二而不二的關係；觀心釋則基於文字無自性的角度，指出一切理解須是走向諸法之究竟實相的理解，而此理解及其詮釋須是在擺脫一切字辭句讀的表面意思，走向一心三觀的實踐理解方才可能。

'Four kinds of explanation' (四意消文) offers a specific method that Tiantai Zhiyi used to express the truth of saddharmapundarika-sutra (妙法蓮華經). This method discloses the original reality of saddharmapundarika-sutra: the "Sutra" that represents every Buddhist sutra and the dharma itself. The method of 'Four kinds of explanation' is not just a practical method about explaining sutras; it includes the theory of interpretation, which combines understanding with practical meaning. 'Four kinds of explanation' includes the explanation of yinyuan (因緣), uejiao (約教), benji (本具), guanxin (觀心). Both explanations of yinyuan and uejiao are analytical methods. We understand that the text itself is sunya in the process of analyzing. The most radical idea of saddharmapundarika-sutra is benji, by which we understand that there are ben-saddharmapundarika-sutra (ben-text) and ji-saddharmapundarika-sutra (ji-text). That means the two are indivisible though they are distinguishable. The interpretation in Guanxin based on the absence of self-nature in text and scripture, points out that understanding must tend to an understanding of the ultimate and real mark of all kinds of dharmas; moreover, this interpretation and understanding must abandon the superficial meanings of all words and expressions, by transforming itself into the threefold contemplation within one moment of mental activity. It is accomplished only after having realized this kind of contemplation.