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How did homage create a bond between a lord and a vassal?

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feudalism
feudalism Detail from the Heidelberger Sachsenspiegel showing the homage ceremony, in which the vassals put themselves under the protection of their lords by placing their hands between his hands, 14th century; in the Universitatsbibliothek, Heidelberg, Germany.

In the social system of feudalism, homage was a solemn ritual that established a formal bond of tenure between a lord and a vassal.1

The ceremony created this bond through a symbolic act of surrender: the vassal knelt and placed his joined hands into the hands of the lord, who clasped them to signify acceptance. This gesture represented the vassal placing himself under the lordā€™s jurisdiction and disposal.12

This act was further solidified by an oath of fealty, where the vassal promised fidelity and protection of the lordā€™s property. In return, the lord performed an investiture, granting the vassal a fief as a symbol of their mutual obligations: the vassal owed the lord service and assistance, while the lord was morally and socially obligated to provide protection and support for the vassal and his family.12