歷(li)史上(shang)的一(yi)些典籍(ji),對南(nan)武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的稱謂有四:南(nan)武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、南(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、南(nan)成(cheng)。不同(tong)史籍(ji)對該城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的稱謂不同(tong),有些書籍(ji)在不同(tong)卷次(ci)里也(ye)有不同(tong)的說法(fa)。根(gen)據古漢語(yu)的行文(wen)規則可(ke)知(zhi),武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、南(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、南(nan)成(cheng)均(jun)為南(nan)武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)之省筆。
根據史(shi)料考(kao)證,南(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)的(de)建城(cheng)(cheng)時(shi)間在東周中期的(de)公元(yuan)前(qian)554年(nian)(魯(lu)襄(xiang)公十(shi)九年(nian))。此時(shi),已處于春秋末期,諸侯(hou)(hou)割據造成了(le)周王朝內部日趨動蕩不(bu)安,魯(lu)襄(xiang)公為(wei)(wei)(wei)抵御齊國(guo)(guo)而在這(zhe)一(yi)戰略要地(di)筑城(cheng)(cheng)。據編年(nian)體史(shi)書(shu)(shu)《竹書(shu)(shu)紀年(nian)》載,公元(yuan)前(qian)427年(nian)(周考(kao)王十(shi)四年(nian)),作為(wei)(wei)(wei)魯(lu)國(guo)(guo)“三桓”之(zhi)一(yi)的(de)季(ji)孫后(hou)裔不(bu)甘心(xin)臣服魯(lu)國(guo)(guo)而自立費國(guo)(guo),南(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)遂為(wei)(wei)(wei)費國(guo)(guo)所并。戰國(guo)(guo)時(shi)期曾被齊國(guo)(guo)占(zhan)領,成為(wei)(wei)(wei)齊、楚(chu)兩國(guo)(guo)邊境上(shang)的(de)要隘。據《史(shi)記(ji)·田敬世家》載,公元(yuan)前(qian)333年(nian)(齊威(wei)王二十(shi)四年(nian)),齊王與威(wei)王斗寶時(shi)說:“吾臣有(you)檀子(zi)者,使守南(nan)(nan)城(cheng)(cheng),則(ze)楚(chu)人不(bu)敢為(wei)(wei)(wei)寇,東取泗上(shang)十(shi)二諸侯(hou)(hou)皆來(lai)朝。”將(jiang)南(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)的(de)守將(jiang)檀子(zi)喻為(wei)(wei)(wei)國(guo)(guo)寶。公元(yuan)前(qian)256年(nian)(周郝王五(wu)十(shi)九年(nian))南(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)隨魯(lu)國(guo)(guo)一(yi)同被楚(chu)國(guo)(guo)吞并。南(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng),在秦代屬瑯琊郡(jun)。西漢(han)(han)屬東海郡(jun),為(wei)(wei)(wei)侯(hou)(hou)國(guo)(guo)(《漢(han)(han)書(shu)(shu)·地(di)理(li)志》稱南(nan)(nan)成),城(cheng)(cheng)陽共王之(zhi)子(zi)劉貞被封為(wei)(wei)(wei)南(nan)(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)侯(hou)(hou),王莽時(shi)位絕。東漢(han)(han)置南(nan)(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)縣,至北齊時(shi)并入(ru)南(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)陽縣。南(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)從東周到(dao)東漢(han)(han),有(you)著500余年(nian)的(de)輝煌。
南武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)依山(shan)(shan)傍水(shui),地處要沖(chong),自(zi)古就是(shi)兵(bing)家必爭(zheng)之地。據(ju)《左傳(chuan)》載(zai),公(gong)(gong)(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)前(qian)565年(nian)(nian)(nian)(魯(lu)(lu)襄公(gong)(gong)(gong)八年(nian)(nian)(nian)),吳(wu)國進攻魯(lu)(lu)國,就是(shi)先占南武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng),然(ran)后揮師直抵泗(si)水(shui),威逼魯(lu)(lu)都曲阜。公(gong)(gong)(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)前(qian)519年(nian)(nian)(nian)(魯(lu)(lu)昭公(gong)(gong)(gong)二十三年(nian)(nian)(nian)),“邾人(ren)城(cheng)(cheng)翼還,將(jiang)自(zi)離姑(gu),武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)人(ren)塞(sai)其前(qian)。”駐武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)的(de)魯(lu)(lu)兵(bing)將(jiang)邾人(ren)全部(bu)俘獲。公(gong)(gong)(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)前(qian)487年(nian)(nian)(nian)(魯(lu)(lu)哀公(gong)(gong)(gong)八年(nian)(nian)(nian)),“吳(wu)伐(fa)我,道險,從武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)。”西漢瑯(lang)琊人(ren)樊崇率(lv)赤眉軍(jun)占領南武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng),并以(yi)南武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)為依托與官兵(bing)周旋(xuan)。明末(mo)清初的(de)農民起(qi)義(yi)領袖(xiu)王肖(xiao)武(wu)占領南武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)自(zi)稱“九(jiu)山(shan)(shan)王”,在此堅持斗爭(zheng)達十數年(nian)(nian)(nian)之久。
南(nan)武(wu)城自(zi)古山川形勝,鐘(zhong)靈毓秀,人才輩(bei)出,文武(wu)兼備(bei)。該(gai)地是春秋(qiu)戰國(guo)時期儒家一代傳人“宗(zong)圣(sheng)”曾(ceng)參和孔子(zi)(zi)另一高(gao)足澹(dan)臺滅明的(de)故里(li)。孔子(zi)(zi)的(de)得意門生(sheng)——子(zi)(zi)游(you)(you)(言偃,字子(zi)(zi)游(you)(you))曾(ceng)任武(wu)城宰(zai)。據(ju)《論(lun)語·陽(yang)貨(huo)篇(pian)》載,一次孔子(zi)(zi)到南(nan)武(wu)城,聽到彈琴(qin)唱歌之(zhi)生(sheng)不絕于(yu)耳,看到一片繁榮景象,于(yu)是對(dui)子(zi)(zi)游(you)(you)開玩笑說:“割雞(ji)焉用牛刀。”子(zi)(zi)游(you)(you)認真地說:“昔者偃也聞諸夫子(zi)(zi)曰(yue):‘君子(zi)(zi)學道則愛人,小人學道則易使也。’”孔子(zi)(zi)忙說:“二三子(zi)(zi)!偃之(zhi)言是也。前言戲之(zhi)耳。”可(ke)見,南(nan)武(wu)城地區(qu)的(de)文教事業已(yi)相當普及(ji),教育已(yi)在平(ping)民中(zhong)展開。
膾炙(zhi)人口的(de)“曾子殺(sha)人”、“曾子殺(sha)豬”、“慈母投(tou)梭”、“斬蛟投(tou)壁”等(deng)故事被世代傳頌,在國內外(wai)有廣泛的(de)影響。
西(xi)晉(jin)著(zhu)名的政治(zhi)家、軍事家羊祜和東(dong)晉(jin)著(zhu)名書法家羊欣(xin)的故里都(dou)是南武城,官修《晉(jin)書》對此有載。在南武城故城遺址東(dong)邊有曾(ceng)點墓(mu)和澹臺滅(mie)明墓(mu),昭示著(zhu)該地(di)歷史的悠久。
清代文人(ren)楊儀(yi)廷在《詠懷古(gu)跡》組詩中談南(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)故城(cheng)遺址時說:“當(dang)年此地起弦(xian)歌,以武(wu)名城(cheng)意若何?百里巖(yan)疆資保(bao)障,四周山勢逼嵯峨。斬(zhan)蛟奮(fen)起畸(ji)人(ren)劍,投杼(zhu)偏停(ting)慈母梭(suo)。賴有勾吳賢邑宰,兩言學(xue)道總(zong)無頗。”(清光緒版(ban)《費縣志》卷十三第二十五頁(ye))