Papers Session: A Mixture of Moving Images Abstract for Online Program Book (maximum 150 words) This study examines the origin of the three hares motif, first documented in the Dunhuang Mogao caves during the Sui dynasty (581-618), by proposing a novel connection to Qin palace architectural designs. Through a comparative analysis of motifs from Qin palace ruins and Mogao caves, significant similarities are identified, especially between the Dunhuang three hares and a three-deer pattern on Qin eave tiles. Additional evidence includes shared decorative elements such as the sunflower pattern and cloud-leaf motifs, suggest that architectural motifs from Qin palaces substantially influenced Dunhuang's iconographic development, offering new perspectives on the three hares' origins. Authors Wen Hui, Ghent University wen.hui@ugent.be View
