The Cups and Balls is one of the oldest effects in the history of magic, with roots in cultures around the world. In China, the traditional version is known as "Immortal Picks the Beans" - a classic of Chinese conjuring once performed in the imperial courts.
Unfortunately, many traditional Chinese acts have been lost over time. For centuries, Chinese magicians passed down their secrets only through strict master-apprentice relationships. This secrecy preserved their authenticity but also meant that many of the most beautiful pieces of magic nearly disappeared.
TheAncient Chinese Bowls Actis a faithful revival of this heritage. Using simple bowls and beans, the magician makes the beans travel from one bowl to another, multiply, and vanish. Yet unlike the Western Cups and Balls, this Chinese version requires no extra balls - embodying the unique way of thinking behind Chinese magic.
What makes this set unique is its unprecedented finale: instead of the usual appearance of extra objects, the bowls themselves can vanish from the table and reappear. When they return, three bowls are produced in succession - one filled with flowers, one with flowing water, and one with grain. This climactic transformation is extraordinarily rare, even in China today. Best of all, no repeated loading is required: everything is designed so the sequence flows naturally, allowing you to perform a complete routine from beginning to end.
Why Choose the Ancient Chinese Bowls Act?
The most authentic and professional version of "Immortal Picks the Beans" available today, created by a direct heir of the Zhao family conjuring tradition, ensuring authenticity and authority.
Simple setup and performance, without the repeated loads required in the Cups and Balls
A full act, not just a collection of methods and effects - suitable for almost any performance setting
The final production allows you to produce liquids or grains, offering a powerful and visual climax
Designed for clarity, elegance, and storytelling, rooted in Chinese tradition but adapted for modern audiences
What's Included
Precision-crafted gimmicked apparatus
Three special bowls
Two regular bowls
Seven performance balls (five in use, two spares)
Iron ring and cloth
Two flowers for the final production (one in use, one spares)
45 minutes of detailed video instruction, covering every move, subtlety and countless variations
Elegant, collectible packaging - made to last a lifetime
A High-End Collectible
This is not a mass-market trick. Each set is carefully produced to honor the tradition of Chinese magic while meeting the expectations of modern professionals. It is a complete performance piece, suitable for stage, parlor, or special events.
The Ancient Chinese Bowls Act is both a working routine and a collector's item - a rare opportunity to own a piece of living Chinese magic history.
For decades, writers have been essential tools for magicians and mentalists.But they've always had one limitation:They run out.Not anymore.INFINITY WRITER is the modern evolution of the Writer, now with an...
Dream Keeper Journal is Daniel K's professional version of one of the most powerful effects in mentalism: CONFABULATION.This is what Daniel K says about Dream Keeper:"I've been performing the classic Confabulation for...
Pocket-Ready Spirit Writing, Fully in ViewThe EDC Ghost Whiteboard reimagines the traditional blackboard-and-chalk format as a clean whiteboard-and-marker system. Its palm-sized writing area is optimized for comfortable handling, while still preserving and...
The Miracle Wine Bottles is a classic of stage magic that combines mystery, comedy, and mind-boggling surprises.You present a bottle and a glass placed under two separate covers. In a seemingly impossible...
The Miracle Wine Bottles is a classic of stage magic that combines mystery, comedy, and mind-boggling surprises.You present a bottle and a glass placed under two separate covers. In a seemingly impossible...
Make a coin portrait appear on a one-dollar bill.A killer close-up effect closely guarded by Josh Janousky for over a decade.For over a decade, Josh Janousky kept Arraignment as his...