Since the I Ching serves as a metaphor for the brain's manner in which it interprets reality so the primary functions of the brain shine through any metaphor. These prime functions are those of Transforming and Transcending and these reflect the basic properties of the brain of Integrating and Differentiating.
The Transformation function is the process by which we learn 'good' habits that enable us to quickly blend-in with a context such that it pushes us - we conserve energy by having habits encoded into the input areas of the neurons of the brain and as such get pushed rather than have to continuously monitor the context for changes. The overall emphasis therefore is on fitting-in, integrating, and in general of PROTECTION and the maintaining of balance.
The Transcendence function is the process by which we can elicit 'new' perspectives on a habit that is responding to a context - we can 'slice n dice' the habit and, through the link to synchronisations of neurons as responses to stimuli, re-synchronise data to create new, alternative, behaviours that can (a) aid us in escaping the current context for another or (b) asserting our own context over the existing. The overall emphasis therefore is on REPLACEMENT of the existing context either by escape to assertion of one's own; the focus is on differentiating something 'better'. In general this transcendence 'drive' reflects the recruitment of others to 'go beyond' - and not necessarily giving those recruited any benefit for their efforts to aid in 'your' transcendence!
The Transcendence function is associated with differentiation and SINGLE CONTEXT thinking (universals) which is very EITHER/OR and so very CLEAR in what it wants/needs (it 'stands out').
The Transformation function is associated with integration and more multiple context processing (local context sensitive).
Thus in the IC+ interpretations of the hexagrams each hexagram has been identified with its overall functional preference. Due to the nature of the manner in which the hexagrams have been derived (recursion of yin/yang) so properties of BOTH functions can be identified within each hexagram, however the TOP LINE of each hexagram shows the particular bias of that hexagram - if the top line is YIN then the bias is to Transforming whereas if the top line is YANG then the bias is to Transcending.
Note that these biases are local and operate WITHIN the general biases determined by the BOTTOM LINE of the hexagram. For example, the only differences between hexagram 2 and hexagram 23 is the top line. BOTH hexagrams are 'yin' based and as such have a GENERAL bias to transforming - protection - but the TOP line of 23 is yang and gives 23 a focus on transcending, on replacing something with something considered 'better' - in 23 the perspective is on PRUNING, on clearing away chaff from the wheat. This replacement process is done within an integrating context (yin base line) and as such serves as an example of protecting the 'true' faith by occasionally pruning.
For more on the brain's methods that are reflected in the I Ching, see http://pages.prodigy.net/lofting/id.html or else click the back arrow on your browser to return to the hexagram you were viewing.