the tianjing incident () occurred during the late qing dynasty from september 2 to october 1856. this was a major political internal conflict within the taiping heavenly kingdom which took place in its capital city tianjing. a few key leaders of the taiping rebellion were killed; the east king yang xiuqing, the north king wei changhui and the yan king qin rigang. more than 27,000 other opposition rivals including soldiers perished in the conflict as well. the tianjing incident was said to be one of the factors which led to the eventual failure of the taiping rebellion, as well as the turning point in its fate.