It is said that the oldest full-fledged educational institution was the Daigaku-ryo within the Centralized Administration established under the Ritsuryo Legal Codes, and according to the regulations, in the regular course (later known as Myogyodo), "Rongo" and "Kokyo" (Classic of Filial Piety) of Confucianism were compulsory and specializations were determined based on the combination scriptures from the three scripture groups: the large scriptures, which included "Raiki" and "Shunju Sashiden," the medium scriptures, which included "Moshi," "Shurai" and "Girai" and the small scriptures, which included "Shueki" and "Shosho."
日本最初の本格的な教育機関は律令制における大学寮であるとされているが、学令によればその本科（後の明経道）においては、儒教のうちの『論語』と『孝経』を必修とし、『周易』、『書経』、『周礼』、『儀礼』、『礼記』、『毛詩』、『春秋左氏伝』の7経のうち、『礼記』・『春秋左氏伝』を大経、『毛詩』・『周礼』・『儀礼』を中経、『周易』・『尚書』を小経としてその組み合わせで先行する経典を定めた。