Chinese linking rings
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The Chinese Linking Rings is considered to be a true classic of magic. Performed by magicians both from the East and West over the centuries, seemingly solid steel rings melt through each other in a linking and unlinking motion to form a chain -- or more complex patterns -- of rings. Recent magicians who have had prolific performance experiences on the Linking Rings include Michael Skinner and Jim Cellini. The number of rings used can typically vary from 3 to even more than 6. A 'standard set' of commercially available rings includes 8 rings.
In 1989, Japanese close-up magician Masahiro Yanagida performed his miniature linking rings routine using 4 rings that were four and one half inches (11.43 cm) in diameter. Since then, the Chinese Linking Rings have also become a favourite performance item for close-up magicians.
See also: List of magic tricks
The effect, that of joining and unjoining solid steel rings can be created with any number of rings, but this example assumes there are six. The magician will have one group of three metal rings that are linked together, and another group of two metal rings that are joined together. He will also have a single ring called the 'key'. The key will not be a complete ring, but will have a discontinuity or split at one point in the material of the ring, where the gap is just large enough to easily pass another ring, this gap can be easily covered when the magician holds the ring in his hand. The hole is large enough, however, for the other rings to pass through it. This allows the magician to make a group of up to six seemingly connected rings.
Throughout the trick the magician will confuse the audience with exaggerated and unusual hand movements designed to disguise the simplicity of the trick. Some magicians may 'join' the real group of three together and pass it to an audience member. The audience member then tries unsuccessfully to unjoin those rings, as the magician plays around with the key and group of two rings.
In the standard set of 8 rings, there will be: 2 single unlinked rings; 2 linked rings; 3 linked rings in a chain; and one key ring. The two extra unlinked rings assist in creating the illusion that the linked rings are unlinked rather than permanently joined. By holding the rings as a group and dropping them from one hand to another, as in "counting" the rings, a minor sleight of hand creates the illusion of counting a stack of unlinked rings.
In performing with the rings, the rings are typically continually in motion, clanging and ringing against each other. The ringing sound of the solid rings sounds quite different from the clang of the split, key, ring -- an effort is made to minimize this give-away sound by not allowing the key ring to strike or be struck by another ring unless it is held in such a way as to disguise the sound.
A reasonably good set of 8 linking rings can be obtained from a supplier of magic props for the price of a reasonably good meal... a cheap set of 6-8 inch diameter rings will function every bit as well as a fancy set and there is no need for the magical student to spend a great amount on a costlier set. Professionals may wish to have a thickly chrome-plated set of larger-diameter rings for use on a stage, or a 'close-up' set of rings in the 4-5 inch (10-13 cm) range.