This program was introduced to Japan, and as Kidendo (called 'Monjodo,' a department of the Monjoin that was established to study Chinese-style poems or history) became popular in the early Heian period, exams were introduced and Monjo hakase (professors of literature and history at Daigaku-ryo, the Bureau of Education under the Ritsuryo system) gave 'sakumon' to Monjo tokugosho and had them take this examination, known as 'taisaku.'
この制度が日本に伝わり、平安時代初期、紀伝道（文章院で漢詩文または歴史を学ぶ学科、通称は「文章道」）が盛んになると、文章博士（大学寮で詩文・歴史を教授した教官）が「策文」を出して文章得業生（もんじょうとくごうしょう）に答えさせる試験が行われるようになり、この試験が「対策」といわれるようになった。