In this paper, a new finite element model (FEM) in consideration of regional stress field and an earthquake triggering factor C are proposed for studying earthquake triggering and stress field evolution in an earthquake sequence. The factor C is defined as a ratio between the shear stress and the frictional strength on a slip surface, and it can be used to tell if earthquake is triggered or not. The new FEM and the factor C are used to study the aftershock triggering of the 1976 Tangshan earthquake sequence. The results indicate that the effects of the stress field and the heterogeneity of the Tangshan earthquake fault zone on the aftershock triggering are very important. The aftershocks fallen in the earthquake triggering regions predicted by the new FEM are more than those fallen in the regions of ΔCFS≥ 0 predicted by seismic dislocation theory. In this paper, a new finite element model (FEM) in consideration of regional stress field and an earthquake triggering factor C are proposed for studying earthquake triggering and stress field evolution in an earthquake sequence. The factor C is defined as a ratio between the shear stress and the frictional strength on a slip surface, and it can be used to tell if earthquake is triggered or not. The new FEM and the factor C are used to study the aftershock triggering of the 1976 Tangshan earthquake sequence. The results indicate that the effects of the stress field and the heterogeneity of the Tangshan earthquake fault zone on the aftershock triggering are very important. The aftershocks fallen in the earthquake triggering regions predicted by the new FEM are more than those fallen in the regions of ΔCFS ≥ 0 predicted by seismic dislocation theory.