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This study focuses not only on their similarity between J. Lyotard's ‘sublime’ and L. Kahn's idea ‘light’ but also on its architectural expression of the light as ‘time.’ For this purpose, the historical and philosophical backgrounds of ‘American sublime’ and significances of Kahn's architectural ideas are analyzed. Ultimately, this study finds that the ‘sublime’ is substituted to Kahn's ‘light’ as well as that their architectural characteristics such as 1) Structure - light that makes people realize existence, 2) Exposed Material – the light that reveals an essence, and 3) Relative Size – the light that forms hierarchy of space in Kahn's architecture. To sum up, Kahn's idea ‘light’ are summarized as follows. Firstly, through the structure, L. Kahn intends to catch the ‘time’ and evokes wonder and surprise of experiencing space by an indeterminacy of light. Secondly, Kahn exposes a material to find an essence which reveals an architectural existence, and natural light to catch time by different appearances of materials every moment. Finally, it is Relative Size – the light that forms hierarchy of space. Through the light varied in 'darkness-brightness' depending on relative size of space, L. Kahn creates a hierarchy between spaces and make to experience a changing space, and finally to feel an emotion of surprise and wonder. In conclusion, L. Khan realizes light as a medium for grasping time, and succeeded in restoring an essence of architecture, monumentality of architecture which had been lost in an existential sense.