Fo Kuang Mountain, which covers 50 chias of land (48.5 hectares about 121.3 acres), was originally a desolate place. On May 16, 1967, Monk Hsinyun felt that Taiwan needed a Buddhist College. He raised funds and started the construction work at Fo Kuang Mountain.
佛光山佔地約五十甲左右，原係一座荒山，民國五十六年五月十六日，有位星雲上人，因感於台灣需要一所佛教大學暨十方叢林，於是廣籌經費，著手佛光山闢建工作。