The 24-posture Simplified Form of t'ai chi ch'uan, (Chinese:太极拳; pinyin: Tàijíquán) sometimes called the Beijing or Peking form for its place of origin, is a short version of Yang style T'ai chi composed of twenty-four unique movements (Wikipedia).

The form was the result of an effort by the Chinese Sports Committee, which, in 1956, brought together four t'ai chi teachers - Chu Guiting, Cai Longyun, Fu Zhongwen, and Zhang Yu - to create a simplified form of t'ai chi as exercise.

The creators truncated the traditional family style t'ai chi forms to 24 postures; taking about six minutes to perform and to give the beginner an introduction to the essential elements of t'ai chi ch'uan, yet retain the traditional flavor of traditional longer hand forms (in general, 88-108 postures). Due to this official promotion, the 24-form is most likely the t'ai chi-form with the most practitioners in China and the world over (though no surveys have been performed).

You can download a very good history and description of the form by Robert Yeoh.

For full video instructions on Youtube by Peter Chen on the 24 Form , please go to the Instructions Page

For practice purposes, you can download a MP3 version with a full description and music. Right-click and select "Save as" to save the file to your PC.

The movements of the form are listed below:
  1. Beginning
    Illustrations of the main movements
  2. Parting the Wild Horse's Mane (3 times)
  3. White Crane Spreads its Wings
  4. Brush Knee and Side Step (3 times)
  5. Play the Lute
  6. Step Back and Repulse Monkey (4 times)
  7. Grasp the Sparrow's Tail - left
  8. Grasp the Sparrow's Tail - right
  9. Single Whip
  10. Wave Hands Like Clouds (3 times)
  11. Single Whip
  12. High Pat on Horse
  13. Kick With Right Heel
  14. Strike Ears With Fists
  15. Kick With Left Heel
  16. Snake Creeps Down (left) and Golden Rooster Stands on right leg
  17. Snake Creeps Down (right) and Golden Rooster Standson Right Leg
  18. Fair Lady Weaves the Shuttle (right and left)
  19. Needle at the Bottom of the Sea
  20. Fan through Back
  21. Deflect Downwards, Parry and Punch
  22. Apparent Close Up
  23. Cross Hands
  24. Closing Form


The video below is an animated version of the original 173 illustrations
published by the People's Sports Publishing House in China in 1973.

Included below is a selection of videos demonstrating the 24 Form

The form performed by Gao JaiMin with English titles.


The following videos below are also excellent examples of the form performed by Amin Wu.
Click on a video and it will open in YouTube.


Front view


Rear view


Rear View with captions


24 Form Tai Chi Demonstration Rear View by William Tsai


Ric Bolzan practicing with friends in Quzhou, China, 2012.


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