‘永州何以万人空巷’这一说法源自唐代文学家柳宗元的名篇《捕蛇者说》。文中描述永州（今湖南永州）百姓因赋税繁重、生活困苦，宁愿冒生命危险去捕捉剧毒的异蛇，也不愿承受官府的苛捐杂税。‘万人空巷’原意是形容人们纷纷走出家门，街道为空，常用于表达盛况或重大事件引发的集体行动。在此语境中，它被引申为百姓为生计所迫，倾巢而出捕蛇求生的悲惨景象。柳宗元借此揭露当时社会的不公与民生之艰，表达了对底层民众的深切同情。如今，‘永州何以万人空巷’常被用来反思社会治理、民生保障与公平正义等议题，具有深远的历史与现实意义。
The phrase ‘Why did Yongzhou empty its streets?’ originates from the famous Tang Dynasty essay ‘The Snake Catcher’s Tale’ by Liu Zongyuan. In the text, Liu describes how the people of Yongzhou (modern-day Yongzhou in Hunan Province) preferred risking their lives to catch deadly venomous snakes rather than endure the crushing burden of oppressive taxes and levies imposed by local officials. The idiom ‘emptying the streets’ (wan ren kong xiang) traditionally refers to a scene where everyone leaves their homes at once—usually to celebrate or witness something extraordinary. Here, however, it is used ironically to depict a tragic reality: entire communities forced to go out en masse simply to survive. Through this powerful narrative, Liu Zongyuan exposed the injustices of his time and expressed profound empathy for the suffering of ordinary people. Today, the phrase continues to resonate as a poignant reminder of the importance of fair governance, social equity, and the protection of basic livelihoods.
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