The 24-posture Simplified Form of t'ai chi ch'uan, sometimes called the Beijing

Beijing

Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...

 form for its place of origin, is a short version of T'ai chi composed of twenty-four unique movements.

History

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

Chu Guiting

Chu Guiting, 褚桂亭 was born in Danzhou town, Renqiu County, Hebei Province on 26 July 1892. He was a prolific martial artist who studied under the famous local masters, Jiang Yuhe, Yu Bingzhong, and Chen Delu, and went on to influence many different Chinese martial arts schools through his...

, Cai Longyun, Fu Zhongwen

Fu Zhongwen

Fu Zhongwen was a respected T'ai chi ch'uan teacher and author from China. From an early age, he had been a disciple of Yang Chengfu, and later a family member as he married Zou Kuei Cheng, the great-granddaughter of Yang Chien Hou....

, and Zhang Yu - to create a simplified form of t'ai chi as exercise for the masses. The creators truncated the traditional family style t'ai chi forms to 24 postures; taking between four and five 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). Henceforth, this form was avidly promoted by the People's Republic of China

People's Republic of China

China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...

 for general exercise, and was also taught to internees in Communist "re-education" camps. 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).

Movements

Commencing (Qǐshì, 起势), Preparation, Beginning Part the Wild Horse's Mane (Zuoyou Yémǎ Fēnzōng, 左右野马分鬃), LEFT and RIGHT White Crane Spreads Its Wings (Báihè Lìangchì, 白鹤亮翅), Stork/Crane Cools Its Wings Brush Knee and Step Forward (Zuoyou Lōuxī Àobù, 左右搂膝拗步), Brush Knee and Twist Step, LEFT and RIGHT Playing the Lute (Shǒuhūi Pípā, 手挥琵琶), Strum the Lute, Play Guitar Reverse Reeling Forearm (Zuoyou Daojuan Gong, 左右倒卷肱), Step Back and Drive Monkey Away, LEFT and RIGHT Left Grasp Sparrow's Tail (Zuo Lan Quewei, 左揽雀尾), Grasp the Bird's Tail Ward Off (Peng) Rollback (Lu) Press (Ji) Push (An) Right Grasp Sparrow's Tail (You Lan Quewei, 右揽雀尾) Single Whip Single Whip Single Whip is a common posture found in most forms of t'ai chi ch'uan. Typically at the end of the posture the left hand is in a palm outward push and the right hand held most commonly in the form of a hook or closed fist...  (Danbian, 单鞭) Wave Hands Like Clouds (Yunshou, 云手), Cloud Hands, Cloud Built Hands, Wave Hands in Clouds Single Whip Single Whip Single Whip is a common posture found in most forms of t'ai chi ch'uan. Typically at the end of the posture the left hand is in a palm outward push and the right hand held most commonly in the form of a hook or closed fist... (Danbian, 单鞭) High Pat on Horse (Gao Tan Ma, 高探马), Step Up to Examine Horse Right Heel Kick (You Dengjiao, 右蹬脚), Separate Right Foot, Kick with Right Foot Strike to Ears with Both Fists (Shuangfeng Guaner, 双峰贯耳) Turn Body and Left Heel Kick (Zhuanshen Zuo Dengjiao, 转身左蹬脚) Left Lower Body and Stand on One Leg (Zuo Xiashi Duli, 左下势独立) Single Whip Squatting Down, Snake Creeps Down, Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg, Golden Bird Standing Alone Right Lower Body and Bird Stand on One Leg (You Xiashi Duli, 右下势独立) Shuttle Back and Forth (Youzuo Yunu Chuansuo, 右左玉女穿梭), Fair Lady Works with Shuttles, (Walking Wood), Four Corners, RIGHT and LEFT Needle at Sea Bottom (Haidi Zhen, 海底针) Fan Through Back (Shan Tong Bi, 闪通臂), Fan Penetrates Back Turn Body, Deflect, Parry, and Punch (Zhuanshen Banlanchui, 转身搬拦捶) Appears Closed (Rufeng Sibi, 如封似闭), Withdraw and Push, as if Closing a Door Cross Hands (Shizishou, 十字手) Closing (Shoushi, 收势)

Variations

5-Section Taijiquan: includes 5 routines, each modelled on the choreography of the Beijing 24-Taijiquan-form.

External links

• Beijing 24 aka the 24 step form aka Simplified 24: Overview of the form with suggested reading, video clips and links to resources
• Simplified 24 Form T'ai Chi Ch'uan (Yang Style): Bibliography, Links, Quotes, Notes, List.
• Shouyu Liang & Sam Masich. Simplified 24 Taijiquan