There are different opinions on the origin of Tai Chi, yet all propositions cannot be proved from authenticate historical records.

The more reliable source came from the research of Wushu historian Tang Hao that Tai Chi was first practiced among the Chen family members at the Chenjia Valley of Wenxian County in Henan Province.

The earliest choreographer of the Tai Chi was Chen Wangting who combined his knowledge of ancient psychological exercises; the positive (Yang) and negative (Yin) philosophy describe in the Book of Changes (I-Jing) and Chinese Traditional Medicine (TCM) theory of meridians, Qi and energy inside the human body with the practices of Wushu. He absorbed the strong points from various schools and styles of martial arts of the Ming Dynasty, especially the long-style boxing, to form the school of Tai Chi.

After years of dissemination, many styles of Tai Chi were created. The most popular and widespread are the following five styles:

(1) Chen-style
(2) Yang-style
(3) Wu-style 
(4) Wu Yuxiang Style
(5) Sun-style

To further popularize Tai Chi, the People's Republic of China, compiled a simplified set consists of 24 forms of the Yang-style Tai Chi in 1956.

In 1979, the Chinese State Physical Education and Sports Commission absorbed the best from the Chen-style, Yang-style and Wu-style, as well as Wushu, to form a popular, 48-form Tai Chi Barehand.