The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was founded by a charismatic Hakka man who came from a poor southern village. He called himself Hong Xiuquan, and he claimed he had a dream of a golden-haired man who called him his younger brother. Under the influence of Christianity, he recognized the man from his dream to be Jesus and felt obliged to spread Christianity. In 1847, Hong became a leader of a secret society with many followers and apprentices. Combining Christianity with Taoism, Confucianism, and Millenarianism but claiming the rebirth of the old Chinese Shang Di faith, Hong founded Taiping Christianity.

The program of the Taiping, in some points influenced by Christian ideas but more so by traditional Chinese thought, was in many points revolutionary:

Feng Yunshan was one of the first followers of Hong Xiuquan. He was a village teacher in a village in Hua County. He was also of Hakka descent, and together with Hong, he preached the Taiping version of Christianity. Deep in the Thistle Mountains, Feng organized a group of followers into a society under the name "God Worshipping Society." Feng became the strategist and the administrator of the rebellion, and Hong Xiuquan bestowed the title of "South King" upon him.

Taiping Christianity had two other prominent leaders who claimed they had the right to speak to God and Jesus. Yang Xiuqing claimed he was deaf and mute before he was introduced into the God Worshipping Society and that he regained his ability to hear and speak at one of the Society's meetings. He also claimed he could enter a trance that would allow him to speak directly to God. Hong and Feng investigated the claims of Yang Xiuqing and declared them to be genuine. He participated in the Taiping Rebellion from the start and rose in the ranks of the rebels quickly. He was promoted to commander of the rebel army by Hong himself, even though he had no military experience, and he was given the title of "East King."

Xiao Chaogui was a farmer from Wuxuan known for his strength and valor. He became the leader of his region and claimed he could speak directly to Jesus. He was also married to Yang Yunijao, who claimed she visited heaven during her illness, where she was told that a new religious instructor was coming. She recognized Hong Xiuquan to be this instructor. Xiao Chaogui was given the title of "West King," and he became one of the principal commanders of the Taiping army.

This sect grew in power and was never recognized as an official religion in China. Like other secret societies, it was persecuted by the Qing authorities. The followers of Taiping Christianity fought piracy and bandits, protecting their homes. But they had to act as a guerilla force due to the constant persecution they faced. This guerrilla army eventually grew into a massive rebellion.

On January 11th, 1851, on his birthday, Hong Xiuquan proclaimed that he was the "Heavenly King," thus starting a new dynasty known as the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Their mission was to overthrow the ruling Qing dynasty, as they had lost the Mandate of Heaven, or so Hong claimed. The first uprising that marked the beginning of the Taiping Rebellion was named after the rebel base in Jintian, located in the Guangxi province. The rebels were recognizable for undoing their Manchu queues. They also changed their garments and tied a red cloth around their heads.