[1] Born in the Guiping district of Guangxi, Qin was a miner by trade, but had studied the military arts.
The first time, 80,000 soldiers encircled Nanjing in March 1853, led by Qin Rigang and Li Xiucheng.
Qin was executed, along with Wei Changhui, during the Tianjing Incident, a major internal conflict within the Taiping Rebellion.
While consolidating power, Yang Xiuqing had sought to humiliate Qin, going so far as to threat him with imprisonment and enslavement for alleged failures in fulfilling his duties.
[6] Shortly before seeking a title commiserate with Hong Xiuquan's, Yang dispatched Qin, Shi Dakai, and Wei Changhui to separate provinces.
[14] Hong pretended to arrest Qin and Wei Changhui for their actions and invited Yang's followers to watch as the two were beaten.