The 24 Form can be seen performed en masse perhaps more than any other Tai Chi form.
The 24 posture Simplified Form of Tai Chi Chuan is the result of an effort by the Chinese Sports Committee which, in 1956, brought together four T'ai Chi teachers to create a simplified form of tai chi as exercise for the masses. The creators truncated the Yang style hand form to 24 postures; taking between four and eight minutes to perform and to give the beginner an introduction to the essential elements of tai chi chuan, yet retain the traditional flavor of Yang style. [1] Henceforth this form was avidly promoted by the People's Republic of China for general exercise, and was also taught to internees in Communist "re-education" camps. Due to this official promotion, the twenty-four form is most likely the tai chi form with the most practitioners in China and the world over (though no surveys have been performed).
The following is a nonstandard listing that exposes the hidden forms/postures in the framework/routine and includes Pinyin and Simplified Chinese names.
Commencing (Qishi), Preparation, Beginning
Part the Wild Horse's Mane (Yema Fenzong)
White Crane Spreads Its Wings (Baihe Liangchi), Stork/Crane Cools Its Wings
Brush Knee and Step Forward (Louxi Aobu), Brush Knee and Twist Step
Playing the Lute (Shouhui Pipa), Strum the Lute, Play Guitar
Reverse Reeling Forearm (Daojuan Gong), Step Back and Drive Monkey Away
Left Grasp Sparrow's Tail (Zuo Lan Quewei), Grasp the Bird's Tail
