After spreading into Vietnam, the Sanzijing (􁵊􂪘􄳔) had a strong influence on the Sino-Nom writings by Vietnamese authors in both of their form and content. On the form, the three-character verse style of the Sanzijing was adopted in many Vietnam’s works. About the content, premodern Vietnamese authors compiled their works by re-using examples of fondness for learning and categories of traditional concepts. In the process of reception of the Sanzijing, these authors also made immitation, adjustment, application, and combination in many aspects of this book, in order to compile primary textbooks for the education of script, language, history, thoughts, culture of Vietnam.

This research bases on primary sources written in Sinograph and Nôm (vernacular Vietnamese script) by scholars in premodern Vietnam, to make a pedagogical analysis on the role of the Sanzijing (三字經) in Literary Sinitic education in premodern Vietnam. Thus, this paper claims, the study of the civil service examination in premodern Vietnam should be covered from its starting point, the primary level, to fill the gap of a partial concern by modern scholars of the high level.