great equal assembly; quinquennial almsgiving and preaching service
A Buddhist term for a large, indiscriminate gathering held every five years where alms are given and teachings are preached to all without distinction.
The great equal assembly is a major Buddhist service held once every five years, offering alms and preaching to many people regardless of their status.
From Buddhist terminology; the exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji 無遮 (no obstruction) and 大会 (great assembly) reflect the indiscriminate nature of the gathering.