yonder, facing, beyond, confront, defy, tend toward, approach
向 centers on facing or directing oneself toward something, whether physically (yonder, beyond), attitudinally (confront, defy), or in terms of inclination (tend toward, approach).
向 originally depicted a house with a window or opening facing a direction, conveying the idea of facing or orientation. The modern form retains the roof-like top and the 口 (mouth/opening) inside.
The top stroke looks like a roof, and the 口 inside is a window. Imagine a house with a window facing toward the distant hills: 向 is about facing yonder.
For コウ, picture a person facing a 校 (こう, school) building in the distance: 校 -> コウ, and you are heading toward it.
to turn (towards); to face; to point; to aim; to direct to
to face
direction; orientation; bearing; way
tendency; trend; inclination
opposite side; other side
facing; opposite; across the street; other side
elevation; rise; improvement; advancement; progress
direction; orientation; aspect; exposure
intention; inclination; mind; idea; wish; view
front-facing
sunny place; in the sun
trend; tendency; movement; attitude
intention; aim; preference (for); orientation (towards a goal)
to turn toward; to look (up, down, etc.)
completely; absolutely; totally
outward appearance; ostensible; public; official
temporary transfer (of an employee); secondment; relocation; loan
conversion; shift; about-face; switch
counter-; corresponding; face; opposite
plan; idea; design; plot
propensity; tendency; inclination; deflection
facing upward
back-facing; backwards
pointing up; pointing upward; upturn; uptrend; upward tendency
wind direction
directly opposite; right in front
introversion
to go to; to proceed to; to leave for
to turn one's face; to turn around; to look over one's shoulder
inclination; tendency; nature; character
to strike back at; to bite back; to turn on; to rise against; to oppose; to defy
completely; absolutely; totally
other side; opposite side; other party
towards (a destination); for the purpose of; with the goal of; targeting (a group, a demographic)
introverted; withdrawn
beginner-friendly; (intended) for beginners; aimed at beginners
on the left as one faces (it)
intended for ...; oriented towards ...; aimed at ...
(person with) no sense of direction; poor sense of locality
at one's fancy (whim)