The early hydration characteristics according to the C3A polymorphism and the presence of gypsum, in order to establish the hydration mechanism of the system C3S-C3A, have been studied. The hydration rate of C3A was changed according to the its crystal structure and influenced the hydration of C3S. That is, the hydration rate of C3S was accelerated in case of orthorhombic-C3A, but that was slightly retarded in case of melt-C3A than that of cubic-C3A. In the system C3S-C3A-gypsum, the retardation phenomenon of the reaction of monosulfate formation was observed in case of both orthorhombic and melt-C3A.