To investigate the effects of light intensity on the growth, and the critical minimum light intensity for growing of Cornus controversa seedlings at the stage of cotyledon, hypocotyl elongation, cotyledon expansion, the times of leaves appearance, dry weights of each organ, and specific leaf area(SLA) were measured on a growth chamber with several light intensity gradients(385, 32, 17, 8, and 5μ㏖ m^(-2)s^(-1)). There was a positive correlationship between the size of cotyledon and the biomass of cotyledon and total seedling. Hypocotyl was more elongated under relatively low light intensities, such as 32, 17, 8, and 5μ㏖ m^(-2)s^(-1) than under 385μ㏖ m^(-2)s^(-1) light intensity, however, dry weight of the hypocotyl was adverse. As the light intensities decreased, the leaf appearance was delayed and the number of leaves decresed. In addition, leaves did not appear under 8μ㏖ m^(-2)s^(-1) and 5μ㏖ m^(-2)s^(-1) light intensity. Although cotyledons were more fully expanded under 32 and 17μ㏖ m^(-2)s^(-1) light intensities than 385μ㏖ m^(-2)s^(-1) light intensity, the dry weights of cotyledons were greater under the high light intensity. The dry weight of cotyledon, hypocotyl, root and leaves showed a decreased pattern with decreasing light intensities, but root to shoot(hypocotyl+leaves) ratio rapidly increased. Roots did not develop below 8μ㏖ m^(-2)s^(-1) light intensity. In conclusion, the results showed that the critical minimum light intensity for growing of Corpus controversa seedlings was above 17μ㏖m^(-2)s^(-1) light intensity.