User blog comment:OmegaDragonite/ Explosion Release; What is it, Tota or Genkai? How does it work?/@comment-3454557-20130712173259

The biggest thing when using the I Ching, is to thoroughly read about the interactions and natures of the elements (trigrams) and subelements (hexagrams). You've made a very basic, forgivable mistake regarding elemental interactions. In the I Ching, the first trigram in a hexagram refers to the element being modified. The "base" element, if you will. The second hexagram refers to the action or modification taking place upon the first. In this way, the order of operations when combining two elements, can make a huge difference. In the case of deidara's clay, I believe the primary element IS earth, since this is the element the action of "explosion" is working upon. As for which element is responsible for the explosive nature... there is probably a reason deidara uses clay as opposed to other elements. The earth likely engenders the nature of the action- in the same way that wood feeds a fire. Earth is an element of stability in the I Ching- it is also receptive to other forces. The action of wind is to "penetrate". [] Hexagram 28 is "Great Exceeding" "Great Surpassing" or "Critical Mass". The nature of Deidara's clay, is such that its explosive nature is stored within the clay in a critical state, ready to explode given the slightest provocation. I believe hexagram 28 is the true elemental makeup of explosive release.