The 24-posture Simplified Form of tai chi, (Chinese: 太极拳; pinyin: Tàijíquán) sometimes called the Beijing or Peking form for its place of origin, is a short version of tai chi composed of twenty-four unique movements.
The form was the result of an effort by the Chinese Sports Committee, which, in 1956, brought together four tai chi teachers—Chu Guiting, Cai Longyun, Fu Zhongwen, and Zhang Yu—to create a simplified form of tai chi as exercise for the masses.
Some sources suggests that the form was structured in 1956 by master Li Tianji (李天骥).
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 24-form is most likely the tai chi form with the most practitioners in China and the world over (though no surveys have been performed).