seven great private schools; seven Heian-period boarding schools
Historical term referring to seven boarding schools established in Kyoto by noble families during the early Heian period. Often mentioned in the context of 大学別曹 (daigaku bessō).
See also: 大学別曹
The seven great private schools were boarding schools established by noble families in Kyoto during the early Heian period.
大学別曹 is a broader category of Heian-period private dormitory-schools for nobles; 七大私学 refers specifically to the seven most prominent ones.
Compound of 七 (shichi, 'seven'), 大 (dai, 'great'), 私 (shi, 'private'), and 学 (gaku, 'school'). The term is a historical designation for seven specific institutions.