歷(li)史上的(de)一些典籍,對南(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)稱(cheng)謂有四:南(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、南(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、南(nan)成。不同(tong)史籍對該城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)稱(cheng)謂不同(tong),有些書籍在不同(tong)卷次里也有不同(tong)的(de)說法。根據古(gu)漢語的(de)行(xing)文(wen)規則(ze)可知(zhi),武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、南(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、南(nan)成均為南(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)之省筆。
根據史(shi)料(liao)考證,南武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)的(de)建城(cheng)時(shi)間在東(dong)(dong)周中期(qi)的(de)公元前(qian)554年(nian)(nian)(nian)(魯襄(xiang)公十九年(nian)(nian)(nian))。此時(shi),已處(chu)于春秋(qiu)末期(qi),諸(zhu)侯(hou)(hou)割據造成了周王朝內部日趨(qu)動蕩(dang)不(bu)安,魯襄(xiang)公為(wei)(wei)抵御齊(qi)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)而在這(zhe)一(yi)(yi)戰略(lve)要地(di)筑城(cheng)。據編年(nian)(nian)(nian)體史(shi)書《竹書紀年(nian)(nian)(nian)》載,公元前(qian)427年(nian)(nian)(nian)(周考王十四年(nian)(nian)(nian)),作為(wei)(wei)魯國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)“三桓”之一(yi)(yi)的(de)季孫后裔(yi)不(bu)甘心臣(chen)服魯國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)而自立(li)費國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo),南武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)遂為(wei)(wei)費國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)所(suo)并。戰國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)時(shi)期(qi)曾被齊(qi)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)占領,成為(wei)(wei)齊(qi)、楚(chu)兩國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)邊境上的(de)要隘。據《史(shi)記(ji)·田(tian)敬世家》載,公元前(qian)333年(nian)(nian)(nian)(齊(qi)威王二十四年(nian)(nian)(nian)),齊(qi)王與威王斗(dou)寶時(shi)說:“吾臣(chen)有檀子(zi)(zi)者,使守(shou)南城(cheng),則楚(chu)人(ren)不(bu)敢為(wei)(wei)寇,東(dong)(dong)取泗上十二諸(zhu)侯(hou)(hou)皆(jie)來朝。”將(jiang)南武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)的(de)守(shou)將(jiang)檀子(zi)(zi)喻為(wei)(wei)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)寶。公元前(qian)256年(nian)(nian)(nian)(周郝(hao)王五十九年(nian)(nian)(nian))南武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)隨魯國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)一(yi)(yi)同被楚(chu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)吞并。南武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng),在秦代屬(shu)瑯(lang)琊郡(jun)。西漢屬(shu)東(dong)(dong)海(hai)郡(jun),為(wei)(wei)侯(hou)(hou)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)(《漢書·地(di)理志》稱南成),城(cheng)陽共王之子(zi)(zi)劉(liu)貞被封為(wei)(wei)南城(cheng)侯(hou)(hou),王莽(mang)時(shi)位(wei)絕(jue)。東(dong)(dong)漢置南城(cheng)縣(xian),至北齊(qi)時(shi)并入南武(wu)(wu)(wu)陽縣(xian)。南武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)從東(dong)(dong)周到東(dong)(dong)漢,有著500余(yu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)的(de)輝煌。
南武(wu)城(cheng)依(yi)山(shan)傍水(shui),地(di)處(chu)要沖(chong),自古就是兵家(jia)必爭之地(di)。據《左傳》載(zai),公(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)前(qian)565年(nian)(魯襄公(gong)八年(nian)),吳(wu)國進(jin)攻魯國,就是先占南武(wu)城(cheng),然后揮(hui)師直抵泗水(shui),威逼魯都曲阜。公(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)前(qian)519年(nian)(魯昭公(gong)二十三年(nian)),“邾人(ren)城(cheng)翼還,將(jiang)自離姑(gu),武(wu)城(cheng)人(ren)塞其前(qian)。”駐武(wu)城(cheng)的魯兵將(jiang)邾人(ren)全(quan)部俘獲(huo)。公(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)前(qian)487年(nian)(魯哀公(gong)八年(nian)),“吳(wu)伐(fa)我,道險,從武(wu)城(cheng)。”西漢瑯琊人(ren)樊崇(chong)率赤眉軍占領(ling)南武(wu)城(cheng),并以(yi)南武(wu)城(cheng)為依(yi)托與官(guan)兵周旋。明末清初的農民起義領(ling)袖王(wang)肖武(wu)占領(ling)南武(wu)城(cheng)自稱“九山(shan)王(wang)”,在此堅(jian)持(chi)斗爭達十數年(nian)之久。
南武(wu)(wu)城自古山川形勝(sheng),鐘靈毓秀,人才(cai)輩出,文(wen)武(wu)(wu)兼(jian)備。該地(di)是春秋戰國(guo)時期儒家(jia)一(yi)代傳人“宗圣”曾參和孔子(zi)(zi)(zi)另一(yi)高足澹臺滅(mie)明的故里。孔子(zi)(zi)(zi)的得(de)意門生(sheng)——子(zi)(zi)(zi)游(言(yan)偃(yan),字子(zi)(zi)(zi)游)曾任武(wu)(wu)城宰。據《論語·陽貨篇》載(zai),一(yi)次孔子(zi)(zi)(zi)到南武(wu)(wu)城,聽(ting)到彈琴唱(chang)歌之(zhi)生(sheng)不絕于耳(er),看到一(yi)片繁(fan)榮景象,于是對子(zi)(zi)(zi)游開(kai)玩笑說(shuo):“割(ge)雞焉用牛刀。”子(zi)(zi)(zi)游認真地(di)說(shuo):“昔者偃(yan)也(ye)聞諸(zhu)夫(fu)子(zi)(zi)(zi)曰:‘君子(zi)(zi)(zi)學道(dao)則愛人,小人學道(dao)則易(yi)使(shi)也(ye)。’”孔子(zi)(zi)(zi)忙說(shuo):“二(er)三子(zi)(zi)(zi)!偃(yan)之(zhi)言(yan)是也(ye)。前言(yan)戲(xi)之(zhi)耳(er)。”可見,南武(wu)(wu)城地(di)區的文(wen)教(jiao)(jiao)事(shi)業已相(xiang)當普及,教(jiao)(jiao)育已在平民(min)中展開(kai)。
膾(kuai)炙人(ren)口的(de)“曾子(zi)殺(sha)人(ren)”、“曾子(zi)殺(sha)豬”、“慈母投梭”、“斬蛟投壁”等(deng)故事被(bei)世(shi)代傳(chuan)頌,在國內外有廣泛的(de)影響(xiang)。
西晉(jin)著(zhu)名(ming)的政治家(jia)、軍事(shi)家(jia)羊祜和東晉(jin)著(zhu)名(ming)書法家(jia)羊欣的故(gu)(gu)里都是南(nan)武(wu)城(cheng),官修《晉(jin)書》對(dui)此有載(zai)。在南(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)故(gu)(gu)城(cheng)遺址(zhi)東邊(bian)有曾點墓和澹(dan)臺(tai)滅明墓,昭示(shi)著(zhu)該地歷史的悠(you)久。
清代文人楊儀廷在《詠懷古跡》組詩中談南武城故城遺址時說:“當年此(ci)地起(qi)弦歌,以(yi)武名城意(yi)若何?百(bai)里巖(yan)疆資保障(zhang),四(si)周山勢逼(bi)嵯峨(e)。斬蛟(jiao)奮起(qi)畸人劍,投杼偏(pian)停慈(ci)母(mu)梭。賴有勾吳賢邑宰,兩言學(xue)道總無頗。”(清光緒(xu)版《費縣志》卷十(shi)三第二十(shi)五頁)