Six in the Second: He holds him fast with yellow ox-hide. No one can tear him loose. The second line symbolizes being bound so tightly by duty or emotion that r
Six in the Second: He holds him fast with yellow ox-hide. No one can tear him loose.
The Tuan Commentary says: Retreat means 'withdrawal.' The firm is in the correct position and responds with the yielding. The yielding gradually advances and grows. In Retreat, success comes through the movement of the time. 'In small matters perseverance furthers' — when growth occurs it is through gradual advancement. The meaning of the time of Retreat is truly great!
Six in the Second is the second line of Retreat, a yin line in a yin position (properly placed) and holding the center. This line uses the vivid metaphor of yellow ox-hide — the toughest binding material — to describe a bond so strong that nothing can break it.
Six in the Second has a corresponding relationship with Nine in the Fifth. Despite the hexagram's overall theme of retreat, this line is held in place by an unbreakable connection. Whether it's duty to a superior, loyalty to a cause, or devotion to a loved one — you want to retreat but simply cannot. The ties run too deep.
As the card depicts — hands bound together by a thick cord. This isn't imprisonment by an enemy but the binding of one's own commitments. You recognize that retreat would be strategically wise, yet something deeper holds you — responsibility, love, honor. And no force can tear that loose.
The Binding Cord
Yilore interprets the Six in the Second of Retreat as 'the power of genuine bonds.' Those tied hands aren't struggling — they're held willingly. The yellow ox-hide represents not chains but commitments chosen from the heart.
In a hexagram about retreat, Six in the Second stands as a powerful counterpoint: not everything should be retreated from. Some bonds are worth staying for, even when the environment turns hostile. The parent who stays to protect their child, the friend who refuses to abandon a companion in crisis, the partner who stands firm when times get hard — these are all Six in the Second.
But there's a shadow side: sometimes what we call 'loyalty' is actually fear of change, and what we call 'duty' is actually inability to let go. The wisdom of this line is knowing the difference. If your bonds are genuine and noble — stay. If they're just comfortable chains — consider whether you're truly being loyal or simply being stuck.
The yellow ox-hide cannot be torn loose by external force. But it can be willingly untied from within if the time truly comes.
The core theme is 'bound by deep loyalty, unable to retreat.' You find yourself held in place by genuine bonds of duty or affection. This is not a time for forced withdrawal — honor your commitments while strengthening your position.
Career
Being bound by deep professional obligations, you cannot simply walk away from your current position. Honor your commitments while quietly strengthening your position. Your loyalty will be recognized, but also assess whether this bond serves your long-term interests.
Relationships
Deep emotional bonds hold you in place — love, shared history, genuine connection. You cannot and perhaps should not leave this relationship. Instead, strengthen it from within while the external situation is challenging.
Wealth
You are financially tied to commitments you cannot easily exit — loans, contracts, joint ventures. Honor these obligations while finding ways to gradually strengthen your financial position within the constraints.
Health
Health commitments you have made — treatment plans, exercise routines, dietary changes — should be maintained even when you feel like giving up. Your consistency in self-care, like the ox-hide, cannot be broken.
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What does 'yellow ox-hide' represent?
Yellow ox-hide was one of the strongest binding materials in ancient China — nearly impossible to break. In this context, it represents obligations, relationships, or emotional bonds so strong that you simply cannot withdraw even when wisdom says you should. Six in the Second holds the center of the lower trigram and has a corresponding relationship with Nine in the Fifth — this bond between them is what creates the unbreakable tie. 'No one can tear him loose' emphasizes that this isn't a casual attachment but something fundamental and deeply rooted.
Is this line positive or negative?
It's complex — neither purely positive nor negative. On one hand, being unable to retreat when you should is objectively dangerous. On the other hand, the reason you can't retreat is loyalty, duty, and genuine connection — these are noble qualities. The line doesn't condemn the attachment; it simply states the reality. Sometimes the right thing to do is stay, even when retreat would be safer. A parent doesn't abandon a child in danger; a loyal minister doesn't flee when the state needs them. The judgment here is neutral — it acknowledges that some bonds transcend strategic calculation.
What should I do with this line?
Accept that you cannot and perhaps should not retreat right now. Your bonds are real and meaningful. Instead of fighting against them, honor them — but do so with open eyes. Strengthen your position where you are. If you can't leave a difficult job because of responsibilities, make yourself as secure as possible within it. If you can't leave a relationship because of genuine love, invest in making it work. The key insight: not every situation calls for retreat. Sometimes the bravest and wisest thing is to stay and hold fast.
