Based on the engineering characteristics of wide-pillar and narrow-pillar zoning layouts in a coal mine, the dynamic manifestation characteristics of roof-type rockburst under different coal pillar widths were investigated through theoretical analysis and field observations. Using the key block structure theory and the limit equilibrium theory of surrounding rock, the reasonable range of coal pillar width was calculated to be 4.3~7.13 m, with an optimal value of 5.7 m, which is very close to the actual small pillar width of 5.6 m applied in the mine. A comparative analysis of the spatial distribution of microseismic events between working faces with small and wide pillars was conducted, including the energy and frequency characteristics along strike, dip, and vertical directions. It was found that microseismic and high-energy events in wide-pillar working faces were highly concentrated within 60 m, whereas microseismic events in small-pillar working faces were concentrated within 100 m, and high-energy events within 40 m. The microseismic energy and frequency in both strike and dip directions were higher for wide-pillar working faces than for small-pillar ones. The coal pillar width was shown to have a significant influence on the spatial distribution of microseismic activity. Under the support of wide pillars, the roof was more prone to hanging and generating high-energy events, while the roof of small-pillar working faces exhibited no hanging and released elastic energy through multiple low-energy events. Small-section coal pillars were found to play an important role in the prevention and control of roof-type rockbursts.