Three Character Primer (三字经), One Thousand Character Primer and the Book of One Hundred Family Names are collectively called the "Three", "Hundred" and "Thousand". They were the No.1 traditional rudimentary reading materials in China. Both Three Character Primer and One Thousand Character Primer were among teaching materials for children in ancient times.

Composed in the late southern Song Dynasty, Three Character Primer contains over 1,000 characters, with three characters in each verse line. The primer covers subjects like traditional Chinese education, history, astronomy, geography, ethics, morals and some folk legends. It is characterized by extensive content and concise statement. Principles are explained in plain words in the primer. It has been included in the UNESCO reading collection for worldwide childhood moral education.