It is said that the oldest Koshohajime was the event in which at Shogosho (Small Palace) of Kyoto Imperial palace "Nihonshoki" (Chronicles of Japan) was lectured by Misao TAMAMATSU representing Japanese books and "Rongo" (Analects of Confucius) by Tadanaga HIGASHIBOJO (Daigaku no kami) representing Chinese classic books.
明治2年に京都御所小御所において、玉松操らが和書を代表して『日本書紀』を、東坊城任長（大学頭）らが漢籍を代表して『論語』を講義したのが最古とされる。