原文
粤谓野市曰虚，市之所在，有人则满，无人则虚。满时少，虚时多，故曰虚也，虚即廛也。《周礼注》云：廛，市中空地也，即虚也，地之虚处为廛，天之虚处为辰，辰亦曰躔，其义一也。叶石洞云：昔者圣人日中为市，聚则盈，散则虚，今北名集，从聚也。南名虚，从散也。商征而市井之租不入于少府，或封君汤沐邑，自开阡陌，岂惟爰田，市亦非县官矣。豪殖之徒，役财兼并，以武断于乡曲，恣睢圉夺，擅管山海之利。故先仁义，后争夺，上教化，下货贿。公利于人而恶其私于己，莫善于东莞之章村。章村有虚，为肆若干，或肆有常人，或肆有常人无常居。十日为三会，坐肆之租有常，负戴提挈贸于涂者无常，薄取之，岁入若干缗。会民读法，春秋赛祠，问高年，宾髦士，凶荒祈望，一岁经费皆取给焉。粤之虚，立法惟章村善。
白话
中文
广东人称乡村集市为“虚”。集市所在地，有人来赶集时就满了，没人时就空着。通常，集市空着的时间多，人满为患的时间少，所以叫做“虚”。“虚”也就是古代所说的“廛”。《周礼注》中说：廛，就是市场中的空地，也就是“虚”。地上的空地称为“廛”，天上的空位称为“辰”，“辰”也叫“躔”，它们的意思是相通的。叶适（字正则，号石心，此处“石洞”或为误记或别号）说：古时候圣人规定在中午进行交易，人聚集起来市场就满了（盈），人散去市场就空了（虚）。如今北方称集市为“集”，取的是“聚集”的意思；南方称“虚”，取的是“散去”后空虚的意思。商人被征税而集市的租金却不归国家府库，或者有些封君在自己的封地（汤沐邑）内，自行开垦田地，不仅田地如此，连市场也不归官府管理了。那些豪强富殖的人，利用财富进行兼并，凭借武力在乡里横行霸道，任意妄为，抢夺财物，独占山林湖泽的利益。因此，（理想的治理）应当先讲仁义，后有争夺；上有教化，下有财货流通。将公共利益分享给众人，厌恶损公肥私的行为，这方面做得最好的，没有超过东莞的章村。章村有一个“虚”，设有若干个固定摊位（肆），有的摊位有固定经营者，有的摊位有固定经营者但没有固定住所。每十天有三次集会（赶集日），固定摊位的租金是固定的，而那些挑担、背扛、手提货物在路上交易的流动商贩则没有固定费用，（管理者）只收取很少的费用，每年收入若干缗钱。这些收入用于召集村民宣读法律、春秋两季祭祀神灵、慰问高寿老人、礼遇有才德的人士、以及荒年时祈祷和赈济，一年的公共开支都从这里获取。广东的“虚”，在管理制度方面只有章村是最好的。
英文
In Guangdong, rural markets are called "Xu" (虚). The market location is full when people gather for the market day and empty when they are gone. Since it is empty more often than it is full, it is called "Xu". "Xu" is equivalent to the ancient term "Chan" (廛). The commentary on the Rites of Zhou states: "Chan is the open space within a market," which is "Xu". An empty space on the ground is called "Chan," while an empty position in the heavens is called "Chen" (辰), which is also known as "Chan" (躔); their meanings are related. Ye Shi (styled Zhengze, also known as Shixin; "Shidong" here might be a misremembering or another name) said: In ancient times, the sages designated midday for the market; when people gathered, it was full (盈 - ying), and when they dispersed, it was empty (虚 - xu). Nowadays, in the north, markets are called "Ji" (集), derived from "gathering" (聚 - ju). In the south, they are called "Xu," derived from the emptiness after dispersal (散 - san). Merchants were taxed, but market rents did not go to the state treasury (Shaofu); or perhaps feudal lords in their own fiefdoms (Tangmu yi) opened up lands themselves—not only fields, but markets too were outside county officials' control. Powerful and wealthy individuals used their wealth for annexation, dominated the villages with force, acted unscrupulously, seized property, and monopolized the benefits of mountains and seas. Therefore, (ideal governance) should prioritize benevolence and righteousness over conflict, emphasize moral education from above and allow commerce below. Public benefit should be shared among the people, and private gain at public expense should be abhorred. In this regard, none surpasses Zhangcun in Dongguan. Zhangcun has a "Xu" with a certain number of fixed stalls (肆 - si). Some stalls have regular vendors, while others have regular vendors without fixed residences. There are three market days every ten days. The rent for fixed stalls is fixed, while there is no fixed fee for itinerant traders carrying goods on poles, backs, or by hand; only a small fee is collected from them, yielding an annual income of several strings of cash (缗 - min). This income is used to gather villagers for reading laws, conducting spring and autumn ancestral sacrifices, inquiring after the elderly, honoring virtuous scholars, and praying or providing relief during famine years. All annual public expenses are covered by this fund. Among the "Xu" markets in Guangdong, only Zhangcun has the best regulations.
文化解读/分析
此条目深入探讨了广东地区特有的“虚”（墟）文化，即乡村定期集市的称谓、运作及其社会功能，具有重要的民俗学和社会学价值。
- 名称的文化意涵：屈大均详细解释了“虚”的词源，认为其得名于集市“虚时多，满时少”的特点，并与北方“集”的“聚集”之意对比，揭示了南北方对同类事物观察角度的差异。“虚”强调了市集的时间性和空间性特征——非日常性、周期性开放的公共空间。他还引经据典，将“虚”与《周礼》中的“廛”以及天象中的“辰”、“躔”联系，赋予这一地方俗称以深厚的古典文化根基。
- 乡村社会经济功能：“虚”是传统农业社会重要的商品交换场所，满足了农民互通有无、买卖生产生活资料的需求。条目中描述了固定摊位（肆）和流动商贩并存的经营形态，反映了当时乡村市场的基本结构。
- 地方治理与公共财政模式：条目着重介绍了东莞章村“虚”的善治模式。章村市场管理有序，税费征收“薄取之”，体现了轻徭薄赋的理想。更重要的是，市场收入被用作地方公共财政，其用途广泛，涵盖了普法教育（会民读法）、宗教祭祀（春秋赛祠）、敬老（问高年）、尊贤（宾髦士）、社会救济（凶荒祈望）等多个方面。这不仅展示了一种良性的乡村自治模式，也反映了儒家“仁政”思想在基层社会的实践，即通过市场管理将经济收益转化为维持社会秩序、伦理教化和公共福祉的资源。
- 社会批判与理想寄托：屈大均在介绍章村模式前，先批判了“豪殖之徒”垄断市场、鱼肉乡里的现象，这反映了明末清初商品经济发展中出现的社会矛盾和地方势力膨胀的问题。通过树立章村为典范，表达了他对公平、有序、惠民的地方治理模式的向往和赞赏。
- 民俗活动载体：“虚”不仅是经济场所，也是信息交流、社交娱乐和举行公共活动的中心。“会民读法”、“春秋赛祠”等活动在此举行，说明“虚”承载了重要的文化传播和民俗展演功能，是观察地方风俗习惯的重要窗口。
关键词
广东新语, 屈大均, 地语, 虚, 墟, 墟市, 野市, 集市, 趁墟, 广东, 民俗, 乡村市场, 定期市集, 廛, 周礼, 叶适, 市场管理, 地方治理, 公共财政, 东莞, 章村, 仁政, 社会救济, 祭祀