Fo Guang Shan (Humanistic Buddhism)
Taiwanese-origin Humanistic Buddhist organisation founded by Hsing Yun (1967). Substantial global temple network and Buddha's Light International Association. Mainstream low-control.
CLCI radar
BITE breakdown
0 — Taiwanese-origin Humanistic Buddhist organisation; mainstream low-control.
Profile facts
In context
Fo Guang Shan operates 200+ temples globally and substantial educational programmes (Nan Hua University etc.). Distinctive 'Humanistic Buddhism' emphasis. Mainstream low-control voluntary participation.
Recovery resources
- ICSA (International Cultic Studies Association) — General referral and cult-aware therapist directory.
- INFORM (Information Network on Religious Movements) — LSE-founded UK research-based information service covering new religious movements.
- Freedom of Mind Resource Center — Steven Hassan's organisation; BITE-model resources and family-side exit guidance.
See the full curated list at /resources.
Evidence by BITE axis
- mainstream low-control
Timeline
- 1967Founded by Hsing Yun in Kaohsiung
- 198115 years after its establishment, the Great Hero Hall was built
- 2023Hsing Yun dies
Evidence matrix
Structured sources cross-linked to the claims they document. Tiered per the source hierarchy. For free-text citations see the Sources section below.
Sources
- Stuart Chandler, 'Establishing a Pure Land on Earth: The Foguang Buddhist Perspective on Modernization and Globalization' (University of Hawaii Press, 2004) search ↗
- Visualization of the Taiwaness Buddhism web based on social network analysis — 2010 International Computer Symposium (ICS2010) (2010) — https://doi.org/10.1109%2FCOMPSYM.2010.5685523 open ↗
- Taiwan’s Socially Engaged Buddhist Groups — China Perspectives (2005) — https://doi.org/10.4000%2Fchinaperspectives.2803 open ↗
- Taiwan’s Socially Engaged Buddhist Groups — China Perspectives (2005) — https://dx.doi.org/10.4000%2Fchinaperspectives.2803 open ↗
- Is a Buddhist Group Changing China? Or Is China Changing It? — https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/24/world/asia/china-buddhism-fo-guang-shan.html open ↗
- Templo Zu Lai, em Cotia. — http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/turismo/2012/05/1095150-templo-zu-lai-em-cotia-oferece-refugio-do-caos-da-metropole.shtml open ↗
- Imperfect Accomplishment: The Fo Guang Shan Short-Term Monastic Retreat and Ethical Pedagogy in Humanistic Buddhism — Cultural Anthropology (2019) — https://dx.doi.org/10.14506/ca34.3.02 open ↗
- University of the West — https://www.uwest.edu/ open ↗
- Visualization of the Taiwaness Buddhism web based on social network analysis — 2010 International Computer Symposium (ICS2010) (2010) — https://dx.doi.org/10.1109/COMPSYM.2010.5685523 open ↗
- Taiwan’s Socially Engaged Buddhist Groups — China Perspectives (2005) — https://dx.doi.org/10.4000/chinaperspectives.2803 open ↗
- lire en ligne — https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/24/world/asia/hsing-yun-buddhism-fo-guang-shan.html open ↗
- lire en ligne — https://dx.doi.org/10.31022/ot013 open ↗
- 10.20594/religionandsociety.10.0_25 — https://doi.org/10.20594%2Freligionandsociety.10.0_25 open ↗
- 10.15026/20232 — https://doi.org/10.15026%2F20232 open ↗
- Current Status of Buddhist Activities in Taiwan-Centering on Fo-kuang-shan Temple — JOURNAL OF INDIAN AND BUDDHIST STUDIES (INDOGAKU BUKKYOGAKU KENKYU) (1990) — https://doi.org/10.4259%2Fibk.39.131 open ↗
- 10.51059/nihonkanko.48.0_134 — https://doi.org/10.51059%2Fnihonkanko.48.0_134 open ↗
We cite sources by name and outlet rather than fabricating links. Where a source includes its own URL, the open ↗ link opens it directly; otherwise search ↗ runs a Google Scholar query for the cited title — useful for verifying academic sources. For news outlets, search the outlet's own archive.
Change history
Substantive edits logged per the score-updates policy.
- 2026-05-29Phase 1 Batch J: per-group recovery resources applied via programmatic palette (closest-fit by category + subCategory + score). Palette: Mainstream-comparator lighter.
- 2026-05-20Score band scheme migrated from 4 bands to 5 (Minimal 0–5 / Low 6–12 / Moderate 13–20 / High 21–30 / Extreme 31–40). No CLCI value changed; the new Minimal band was carved out of the bottom of the previous Low band.
Relevant hubs
Curated entry points on CLCI Hub for situations connected to this group.
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