Abstract In this study, the rockburst definition is comprehensively described and several main rockburst theories (the strength theory, the energy theory, the bursting liability theory, the rigidity theory and the instability theory) are analyzed. The two-body interaction theory based on the Newton's law can explain the rockburst mechanism most reasonably. The rockburst development process is a static process and the rockburst occurrence process is within the scope of dynamics. In addition, some precursors exist before rockburst occurrence, reflected by the consistency between acoustic emissions and damage variables in rock mass, which can be summarised as three seismogenic models according to the tempo-spatial distribution. By utilizing the 3S (Stress buildup, Stress shadow and Stress transfer) principle in seismology, three rockburst criteria are proposed in this paper (namely, the stress tempo-spatial evolution, the magnitude, energy and concentration degree of microseismic events, sudden change of apparent volume). Finally, by comparing the results obtained by microseismic monitoring and landsonar positioning, it is shown that the root cause of rockburst occurrence is rock heterogeneity, and the existence of joints and fractures. The fracture intersection points are the locations for rockburst initiation. It is proven that the two-body interaction principle can perfectly explain the rockburst mechanism.