Through my continuing analysis of the Book of Changes, using the Fu Hsi (binary) sequence as well as the King Wen sequence, I have been able to map the processes whereby a single hexagram serving as a general context will guide a situation to one described by another particular hexagram. Within this process we are able to show the motivation behind the changes.
Hexagram 28, when used as general context will always change the situation into hexagram 44. The motivation for this change is described by hexagram 09.
Hexagram 28 when taken in a general context manifests the concept of an extreme. It manifests going beyond what is required, there is an excess of 'yang'. The motive behind this is the drive to make a mark, to make small gains and use those to create influence, this is described by hexagram 09. In general, regardless of the text, the excess situation will develop into one described by hexagram 44.
In the hexagram's cooperational mode (King Wen pattern), hexagram 44 manifests seduction, copulation, singleminded cultivation, persuasion. The motive is sourced in hexagram 09, the need to make a mark, by making small gains one accumulates and gets noticed, becomes influencial.
ERANOS text for the motive hexagram of 09 is:
"HSIAO CH'U - HSIAO : little, common, unimportant; adapting to what crosses your path; ability to move in harmonious relation to the vicissitudes of life...
CH'U : hoard, gather, retain, herd together; control, restrain; domesticate, tame, train; raise, feed, sustain, bring up. The ideogram: field and black, fertile black soil good for pastures, accumulated through retaining silt."
In the hexagram's oppositional mode (Fu Hsi pattern), hexagram 44 manifest the developing influence of darkness, of evil. In the binary ordering, hexagram 44 is the first hexagram with a yin base line, it is the first hexagram at the point of transition from yang based hexagrams to yin based hexagrams. Alfred Huang ("The Complete I Ching" Inner Traditions - page 353) notes that there is a strong emphasis in this hexagram on encountering. Thus, using the opposition/cooperation modes of interpretation, we see encountering in a cooperative context as seduction/persuasion whereas in a negative context the male/female is replaced by light/dark and the encounter is hostile.
The ERANOS text for 44 is:
"KOU : intense, driven encounter, at once transitory and enduring, that is the reflection of primal yin and yang; meet, encounter, copulate; mating animals; magnatism, gravity; to be gripped by impersonal forces."
The link back to 28 is that excessive application of anything will lead to (a) Seduction (cooperation) or (b) the emergence of darkness (opposition).
The reverse path, from 44 to 28, has a different motive, this motive is described by hexagram 61. The path from a context of seduction/persuation or rising darkness will lead to excess or the positive act of going beyond what is normally required and the motivation behind this is to sympathise, to empathise (61). We can extend this to trying to get bodies and minds to occupy the same space; resonance. Huang makes the point that there is an emphasis in hexagram 61 on hitting the mark, compared to the motive of 28 to 44 of making a mark (09).
ERANOS text for the motive hexagram 61 is:
"CHUNG FU -
CHUNG : inner, central; calm, stable; put in the center; stable point which enables you to face inner and outer changes; middle line of a trigram. The ideogram: field divided into two equal parts...
FU : accord between inner and outer in a particular moment; sincere, truthful, verified, reliable, in accord with the spirits; capture; prisoners, spoils;..The ideogram:bird's claw enclosing young animals, possessive grip."
In the hexagram's cooperational mode (King Wen pattern), hexagram 28 manifests the act of going beyond what is required and in doing so 'hit' the mark.
In the hexagram's oppositional mode (Fu Hsi pattern), hexagram 28 manifests excess, too much yang. The motive (61) can thus be overdone, we over sympathise/empathise and in doing so create problems.
ERANOS text for 28 is:
"TA KUO -
TA : big, noble, important, very; orient the will toward a self-imposed goal, impose direction; ability to lead or guide your life...
KUO : go beyond, pass by, pass over; excessive, transgress; error,fault."