歷(li)史(shi)上的(de)(de)一(yi)些典(dian)籍,對南(nan)武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)的(de)(de)稱(cheng)謂(wei)有(you)四:南(nan)武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)、武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)、南(nan)城(cheng)、南(nan)成。不(bu)(bu)同(tong)史(shi)籍對該城(cheng)的(de)(de)稱(cheng)謂(wei)不(bu)(bu)同(tong),有(you)些書籍在不(bu)(bu)同(tong)卷次(ci)里也有(you)不(bu)(bu)同(tong)的(de)(de)說(shuo)法。根據(ju)古漢語(yu)的(de)(de)行文規則可知(zhi),武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)、南(nan)城(cheng)、南(nan)成均為南(nan)武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)之省(sheng)筆。
根據(ju)史料考證(zheng),南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)(de)建(jian)城(cheng)時(shi)(shi)間在東(dong)(dong)周(zhou)中期的(de)(de)(de)(de)公(gong)元前554年(nian)(nian)(魯(lu)(lu)襄公(gong)十九(jiu)年(nian)(nian))。此時(shi)(shi),已處于(yu)春秋末期,諸(zhu)侯割據(ju)造成(cheng)(cheng)了周(zhou)王朝(chao)內部日趨動蕩(dang)不安,魯(lu)(lu)襄公(gong)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)抵御齊國(guo)(guo)而在這一(yi)(yi)戰略要地筑城(cheng)。據(ju)編年(nian)(nian)體史書《竹書紀年(nian)(nian)》載,公(gong)元前427年(nian)(nian)(周(zhou)考王十四(si)年(nian)(nian)),作(zuo)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)魯(lu)(lu)國(guo)(guo)“三桓(huan)”之(zhi)一(yi)(yi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)季(ji)孫后(hou)裔不甘心臣服魯(lu)(lu)國(guo)(guo)而自(zi)立(li)費國(guo)(guo),南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)遂為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)費國(guo)(guo)所并(bing)。戰國(guo)(guo)時(shi)(shi)期曾被齊國(guo)(guo)占領,成(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)齊、楚(chu)兩國(guo)(guo)邊境上(shang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)要隘。據(ju)《史記·田敬世家》載,公(gong)元前333年(nian)(nian)(齊威(wei)王二十四(si)年(nian)(nian)),齊王與威(wei)王斗(dou)寶(bao)時(shi)(shi)說:“吾臣有檀子(zi)(zi)者,使守南(nan)(nan)(nan)城(cheng),則楚(chu)人不敢為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)寇,東(dong)(dong)取泗上(shang)十二諸(zhu)侯皆來朝(chao)。”將(jiang)南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)(de)守將(jiang)檀子(zi)(zi)喻為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)國(guo)(guo)寶(bao)。公(gong)元前256年(nian)(nian)(周(zhou)郝王五(wu)十九(jiu)年(nian)(nian))南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)隨(sui)魯(lu)(lu)國(guo)(guo)一(yi)(yi)同被楚(chu)國(guo)(guo)吞并(bing)。南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng),在秦(qin)代屬瑯琊郡。西漢屬東(dong)(dong)海(hai)郡,為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)侯國(guo)(guo)(《漢書·地理志》稱南(nan)(nan)(nan)成(cheng)(cheng)),城(cheng)陽共王之(zhi)子(zi)(zi)劉貞被封為(wei)(wei)(wei)(wei)南(nan)(nan)(nan)城(cheng)侯,王莽時(shi)(shi)位絕。東(dong)(dong)漢置南(nan)(nan)(nan)城(cheng)縣(xian),至北齊時(shi)(shi)并(bing)入南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)陽縣(xian)。南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)從東(dong)(dong)周(zhou)到東(dong)(dong)漢,有著(zhu)500余年(nian)(nian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)輝煌。
南武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)依山傍水,地(di)處要沖(chong),自(zi)古就(jiu)是(shi)兵(bing)家必爭(zheng)之(zhi)地(di)。據(ju)《左傳》載,公(gong)(gong)元前565年(nian)(魯(lu)(lu)(lu)襄公(gong)(gong)八(ba)年(nian)),吳國(guo)進攻魯(lu)(lu)(lu)國(guo),就(jiu)是(shi)先占(zhan)南武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),然后揮師直抵(di)泗水,威逼魯(lu)(lu)(lu)都曲阜(fu)。公(gong)(gong)元前519年(nian)(魯(lu)(lu)(lu)昭公(gong)(gong)二十(shi)三年(nian)),“邾人(ren)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)翼還,將自(zi)離姑,武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)人(ren)塞其前。”駐武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)魯(lu)(lu)(lu)兵(bing)將邾人(ren)全(quan)部(bu)俘獲。公(gong)(gong)元前487年(nian)(魯(lu)(lu)(lu)哀公(gong)(gong)八(ba)年(nian)),“吳伐我,道險,從武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。”西(xi)漢(han)瑯琊(ya)人(ren)樊(fan)崇率(lv)赤眉軍占(zhan)領南武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),并以(yi)南武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)為依托與官兵(bing)周(zhou)旋。明末清(qing)初的(de)農(nong)民(min)起義領袖王(wang)肖武(wu)(wu)占(zhan)領南武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)自(zi)稱“九山王(wang)”,在此(ci)堅持斗爭(zheng)達十(shi)數年(nian)之(zhi)久。
南武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)自(zi)古山(shan)川(chuan)形勝,鐘靈毓秀,人(ren)才輩出,文(wen)武(wu)(wu)兼備。該地(di)是春秋戰(zhan)國時期儒家一(yi)代傳人(ren)“宗圣”曾(ceng)參和孔子(zi)另一(yi)高足(zu)澹臺滅(mie)明的故里。孔子(zi)的得意門生(sheng)——子(zi)游(you)(言偃(yan),字子(zi)游(you))曾(ceng)任武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)宰。據《論(lun)語·陽貨(huo)篇》載,一(yi)次(ci)孔子(zi)到南武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng),聽(ting)到彈琴唱歌(ge)之(zhi)(zhi)生(sheng)不絕(jue)于耳,看(kan)到一(yi)片(pian)繁榮(rong)景(jing)象,于是對(dui)子(zi)游(you)開玩笑(xiao)說:“割雞焉用牛刀(dao)。”子(zi)游(you)認真地(di)說:“昔者偃(yan)也聞(wen)諸夫子(zi)曰:‘君子(zi)學(xue)(xue)道則(ze)愛人(ren),小人(ren)學(xue)(xue)道則(ze)易(yi)使也。’”孔子(zi)忙說:“二(er)三子(zi)!偃(yan)之(zhi)(zhi)言是也。前言戲之(zhi)(zhi)耳。”可見,南武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)地(di)區(qu)的文(wen)教(jiao)事業已(yi)相當(dang)普及(ji),教(jiao)育已(yi)在平民中展開。
膾炙人口的“曾子(zi)(zi)殺(sha)人”、“曾子(zi)(zi)殺(sha)豬”、“慈母投梭”、“斬蛟投壁”等故事(shi)被世(shi)代傳(chuan)頌,在(zai)國內(nei)外(wai)有廣泛的影響。
西(xi)晉著(zhu)名的政治(zhi)家(jia)、軍事家(jia)羊祜和東(dong)晉著(zhu)名書法家(jia)羊欣(xin)的故里(li)都(dou)是南武(wu)城(cheng),官修《晉書》對此(ci)有載。在南武(wu)城(cheng)故城(cheng)遺址東(dong)邊有曾點墓和澹臺滅明墓,昭(zhao)示著(zhu)該地歷史的悠久。
清代文人楊儀廷在《詠懷古(gu)跡(ji)》組詩中談南武城故城遺址時說(shuo):“當年此地(di)起弦(xian)歌,以(yi)武名(ming)城意若何?百里(li)巖(yan)疆資(zi)保障(zhang),四周山勢逼嵯峨(e)。斬蛟奮起畸(ji)人劍,投杼偏停(ting)慈母梭(suo)。賴有勾吳(wu)賢邑宰,兩言學(xue)道(dao)總無(wu)頗。”(清光緒版《費縣志》卷十(shi)三第二十(shi)五(wu)頁)