6 channel

Well, I think it first depends on whether we are looking at "Liu Jing" physiologically or pathophysiologically...

Physiology =
Tai Yang Great lots of yang
Yang Ming Bright pretty much yang
Shao Yang Less not much yang

Pathophysiology =
the more we search, the more that it seems like disease can go from anything to anything

Joe Mussia

If you are referring to 6 channels diagnosis, ie. Shan Han Lun theory, then I think both are correct. It depends on the strength of the pathogen as well as the individual's zheng qi. From my understanding, there is not a definitive linear progression through the channels. The progression depends on the variables present in the natural world.

Harris

kmh

My first tought is that the order of channels might be different according to wich framwork you use??

If you see the order according to the anatomical distribution of the channals I think of the order would be
TaiYang- supreme Yang- posterior portion of the outside of the leg/arm
ShaoYang- lesser Yang- middle portion of the outside of the leg/arm
YangMIng- Yang brightness- anterior portion of the outside of the leg/arm

If I use the orders of channals to idenify the patters of ext. cold induced disorders accordig to the six stages the orders would be TaiYang-YangMing-ShaoYang, where TaiYang is the initial stage, the onset of disease from attack of ext. cold, and ShaoYang representing the progress of the patogen to become half exterior-half-interior.A phase where the patogen could either be expelled or penetrate further to deeper energetic layer interior affecting the yin organs at TaiYin.

this is sort of like..."the book I read said...."
so, the way I was taught is

The representation of Shang Han Lun that is called Liu Jing Bian Zheng was developed long after SHL. We all know that it is never referenced in the text.

In the southern parts of China, liu jing is interpreted as 6 channels (supported by the representation of tai yang jing vs. tai yang fu)
in the northern parts liu jing is interpreted as 6 constellations/conformations differetiations.
Some famous lecturers refer to this as 6 warps.

My teacher was from the north and cringed at our calling the system "6 channels" (no dogma in this medicine, right?)
His idea was that the "conformations" were much, much bigger than we see them and the channels are merely an external manifestation of this bigger concept.

He taught that the "real" meaning of tai yang, yang ming etc had to be learned from the Nei Jing (not subsequent texts) and deeper study of biao and ben would lead us to understanding of what was being communicated by ZZJ.
There are lines that show us movement from almost any "stage" to any other...perhaps they pass through what is in between without manifesting that "stage"? not really sure...

joe