This paper discusses the construction sequence of caves 268, 272 and 275, the three earliest caves at Mogao also known as the three Northern Liang caves, which are presumed to be have been built during the Northern Liang dynasty in the Sixteen Kingdoms period. No research has been done about the relationship connecting the three caves that might elucidate whether they were built based on a unified plan or built one after the other. According to the data provided in Archaeological Report on Mogao Caves 266—275, and considering the fact that later caves were always built to allow for pre-existing features, this paper analyzes the layout of the three caves and discusses the architectural modifications and overlapping layers of paintings in search of a comprehensive understanding of the excavation process that created these caves.This analysis reaches the conclusion that the three caves were made sequentially, and that the front part of cave 268 was first created, then cave 275 and the rear part of cave 268, and finally cave 272. Various expansions to the caves were made in the same sequence and the caves were likely finished gradually in the Western Liang and Northern Liang periods.
