楚(chu)(chu)(chu)國(guo)的(de)都(dou)城(cheng)(cheng)已被晉(jin)(jin)(jin)國(guo)的(de)兵(bing)馬圍(wei)(wei)困(kun)三年(nian)。晉(jin)(jin)(jin)國(guo)出兵(bing)伐楚(chu)(chu)(chu),是(shi)(shi)(shi)想得(de)到楚(chu)(chu)(chu)國(guo)的(de)鎮(zhen)國(guo)之(zhi)寶:泰(tai)阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)。世人(ren)都(dou)說,泰(tai)阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)是(shi)(shi)(shi)歐冶(ye)子和干(gan)(gan)將兩大劍(jian)(jian)師聯手所(suo)鑄。但(dan)(dan)是(shi)(shi)(shi)兩位大師卻不(bu)(bu)(bu)這樣認為(wei),他們說泰(tai)阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)是(shi)(shi)(shi)一(yi)把(ba)諸侯威(wei)道之(zhi)劍(jian)(jian)早(zao)已存在,只是(shi)(shi)(shi)無(wu)形、無(wu)跡,但(dan)(dan)是(shi)(shi)(shi)劍(jian)(jian)氣早(zao)已存于天(tian)(tian)地(di)之(zhi)間,只等待時機(ji)凝聚(ju)起來,天(tian)(tian)時、地(di)利、人(ren)和三道歸(gui)一(yi),此劍(jian)(jian)即成。晉(jin)(jin)(jin)國(guo)當時最(zui)為(wei)強(qiang)大,晉(jin)(jin)(jin)君當然認為(wei)自己最(zui)有資(zi)格得(de)到這把(ba)寶劍(jian)(jian),但(dan)(dan)是(shi)(shi)(shi)事與愿違(wei),此劍(jian)(jian)卻在弱(ruo)小的(de)楚(chu)(chu)(chu)國(guo)鑄成,出劍(jian)(jian)之(zhi)時,劍(jian)(jian)身果然天(tian)(tian)然鐫刻篆體“泰(tai)阿(a)”二字(zi),可見歐冶(ye)子、干(gan)(gan)將所(suo)言不(bu)(bu)(bu)虛。晉(jin)(jin)(jin)君當然咽不(bu)(bu)(bu)下這口氣,于是(shi)(shi)(shi)向楚(chu)(chu)(chu)王索劍(jian)(jian),楚(chu)(chu)(chu)王拒絕,于是(shi)(shi)(shi)晉(jin)(jin)(jin)君出兵(bing)伐楚(chu)(chu)(chu),欲以索劍(jian)(jian)為(wei)名(ming)借機(ji)滅掉(diao)楚(chu)(chu)(chu)國(guo)。兵(bing)力(li)懸(xuan)殊,楚(chu)(chu)(chu)國(guo)大部分城(cheng)(cheng)池很快陷(xian)落并且都(dou)城(cheng)(cheng)也被團(tuan)團(tuan)圍(wei)(wei)住,一(yi)困(kun)三年(nian)。城(cheng)(cheng)里糧(liang)草告罄(qing),兵(bing)革無(wu)存,危在旦夕(xi)。
這一天(tian)(tian)(tian),晉國(guo)(guo)派來(lai)使者(zhe)發出最后通牒(die):如(ru)(ru)再(zai)不(bu)交(jiao)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),明天(tian)(tian)(tian)將攻陷此(ci)(ci)(ci)城(cheng),到時玉石俱焚!楚(chu)(chu)王(wang)(wang)不(bu)屈(qu),吩(fen)咐左(zuo)右(you)明天(tian)(tian)(tian)自(zi)己(ji)要親上(shang)城(cheng)頭(tou)殺(sha)敵(di),如(ru)(ru)果城(cheng)破(po),自(zi)己(ji)將用此(ci)(ci)(ci)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)自(zi)刎,然后左(zuo)右(you)要拾得(de)此(ci)(ci)(ci)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),騎快(kuai)馬奔(ben)到太湖,將此(ci)(ci)(ci)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)沉入湖底,讓泰阿劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)永(yong)留楚(chu)(chu)國(guo)(guo)。第二天(tian)(tian)(tian)拂曉,楚(chu)(chu)王(wang)(wang)登上(shang)城(cheng)頭(tou),只見城(cheng)外(wai)晉國(guo)(guo)兵馬遮天(tian)(tian)(tian)蔽(bi)日(ri),自(zi)己(ji)的(de)都城(cheng)宛如(ru)(ru)汪(wang)洋(yang)之(zhi)(zhi)中的(de)一葉扁舟(zhou),隨時有(you)(you)傾(qing)滅危(wei)險。晉國(guo)(guo)兵馬開始攻城(cheng),吶(na)喊聲(sheng)如(ru)(ru)同山呼(hu)海嘯,城(cheng)破(po)在即。楚(chu)(chu)王(wang)(wang)雙手捧(peng)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),長(chang)嘆(tan)一聲(sheng):泰阿劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),泰阿劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),我今天(tian)(tian)(tian)將用自(zi)己(ji)的(de)鮮血(xue)來(lai)祭你!于是,拔劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)出鞘,引(yin)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)直指敵(di)軍(jun)(jun)。匪夷(yi)所思的(de)奇跡出現,只見一團(tuan)磅礴劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)氣激(ji)射而出,城(cheng)外(wai)霎時飛沙走(zou)石,遮天(tian)(tian)(tian)蔽(bi)日(ri),似有(you)(you)猛獸咆哮其中,晉國(guo)(guo)兵馬大亂(luan),片(pian)刻之(zhi)(zhi)后,旌旗仆地,流(liu)血(xue)千(qian)里,全軍(jun)(jun)覆沒。這件(jian)事情過后,楚(chu)(chu)王(wang)(wang)召(zhao)來(lai)國(guo)(guo)中智者(zhe)風(feng)胡子問道:泰阿劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)為何(he)會有(you)(you)如(ru)(ru)此(ci)(ci)(ci)之(zhi)(zhi)威?
風胡子說:泰阿劍(jian)(jian)是一把威(wei)(wei)道之(zhi)劍(jian)(jian),而內(nei)心之(zhi)威(wei)(wei)才是真威(wei)(wei),大王(wang)身處逆境威(wei)(wei)武不屈,正(zheng)是內(nei)心之(zhi)威(wei)(wei)的(de)卓越表(biao)現。正(zheng)是大王(wang)的(de)內(nei)心之(zhi)威(wei)(wei),激發出泰阿劍(jian)(jian)的(de)劍(jian)(jian)氣(qi)之(zhi)威(wei)(wei)!見(jian)于(yu)《越絕(jue)書(shu)》。
《史記(ji)·李斯列傳(chuan)》記(ji)載“今陛下致(zhi)昆山(shan)之(zhi)玉(yu),有隨和之(zhi)寶(bao),垂明(ming)月之(zhi)珠,服太(tai)阿之(zhi)劍。”。這句話的意(yi)思是說秦始(shi)皇得到的昆山(shan)寶(bao)玉(yu)有瑞光(guang),堪比明(ming)月,可(ke)至(zhi)太(tai)阿。
秦始皇(huang)曾配寶劍。死后大(da)量陪葬(zang)。很多(duo)寶貝(bei)都跟著埋入始皇(huang)地宮(gong),后來(lai)楚漢相(xiang)爭,楚霸王項(xiang)羽(yu)搶(qiang)劫阿(a)(a)房宮(gong),把(ba)(ba)里(li)面很多(duo)的(de)(de)寶貝(bei)都帶出(chu)來(lai)。相(xiang)傳,項(xiang)羽(yu)用(yong)三十萬(wan)人,拉了三天都沒(mei)把(ba)(ba)阿(a)(a)房宮(gong)內(nei)的(de)(de)寶貝(bei)拉完(wan),這(zhe)一點,在酈道元的(de)(de)《水經注(zhu)》的(de)(de)渭(wei)水段也有記載(zai),項(xiang)羽(yu)后來(lai)火燒阿(a)(a)房宮(gong)。
有(you)成語“泰(tai)阿倒持(chi)”,意為(wei)“倒拿(na)著劍(jian),把(ba)劍(jian)柄給(gei)別人。把(ba)大權交(jiao)給(gei)別人,自(zi)己反(fan)受其(qi)害(hai)。”所(suo)以,泰(tai)阿劍(jian)又被命名為(wei)太阿劍(jian)。