歷史(shi)上的(de)(de)一些典籍(ji)(ji),對(dui)南(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)稱謂(wei)有(you)(you)四(si):南(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、南(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、南(nan)成。不(bu)同史(shi)籍(ji)(ji)對(dui)該(gai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)稱謂(wei)不(bu)同,有(you)(you)些書(shu)籍(ji)(ji)在不(bu)同卷次里也有(you)(you)不(bu)同的(de)(de)說法。根據古漢語的(de)(de)行文規則可知(zhi),武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、南(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、南(nan)成均為南(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)之(zhi)省筆。
根據史(shi)(shi)(shi)料考證,南(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)建城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)時(shi)間在(zai)東(dong)(dong)周中期的(de)公(gong)(gong)元前(qian)554年(nian)(nian)(nian)(魯(lu)襄公(gong)(gong)十(shi)九年(nian)(nian)(nian))。此時(shi),已(yi)處(chu)于春秋末期,諸(zhu)侯割據造成了周王(wang)朝內部日趨動(dong)蕩不(bu)安(an),魯(lu)襄公(gong)(gong)為(wei)(wei)抵御齊(qi)國(guo)而在(zai)這一(yi)戰略要(yao)地(di)筑城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。據編年(nian)(nian)(nian)體(ti)史(shi)(shi)(shi)書(shu)《竹書(shu)紀年(nian)(nian)(nian)》載(zai)(zai),公(gong)(gong)元前(qian)427年(nian)(nian)(nian)(周考王(wang)十(shi)四(si)年(nian)(nian)(nian)),作(zuo)為(wei)(wei)魯(lu)國(guo)“三桓”之(zhi)(zhi)一(yi)的(de)季孫后(hou)裔不(bu)甘(gan)心臣(chen)服魯(lu)國(guo)而自立費(fei)國(guo),南(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)遂為(wei)(wei)費(fei)國(guo)所并。戰國(guo)時(shi)期曾被(bei)齊(qi)國(guo)占(zhan)領,成為(wei)(wei)齊(qi)、楚兩(liang)國(guo)邊境上的(de)要(yao)隘。據《史(shi)(shi)(shi)記(ji)·田敬世(shi)家》載(zai)(zai),公(gong)(gong)元前(qian)333年(nian)(nian)(nian)(齊(qi)威王(wang)二十(shi)四(si)年(nian)(nian)(nian)),齊(qi)王(wang)與威王(wang)斗寶時(shi)說(shuo):“吾臣(chen)有(you)檀(tan)子(zi)(zi)者,使守(shou)南(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),則(ze)楚人不(bu)敢為(wei)(wei)寇,東(dong)(dong)取泗上十(shi)二諸(zhu)侯皆(jie)來(lai)朝。”將(jiang)南(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)守(shou)將(jiang)檀(tan)子(zi)(zi)喻為(wei)(wei)國(guo)寶。公(gong)(gong)元前(qian)256年(nian)(nian)(nian)(周郝王(wang)五十(shi)九年(nian)(nian)(nian))南(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)隨魯(lu)國(guo)一(yi)同被(bei)楚國(guo)吞并。南(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),在(zai)秦代屬瑯(lang)琊郡。西漢(han)屬東(dong)(dong)海郡,為(wei)(wei)侯國(guo)(《漢(han)書(shu)·地(di)理志(zhi)》稱南(nan)成),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)陽(yang)共(gong)王(wang)之(zhi)(zhi)子(zi)(zi)劉貞被(bei)封為(wei)(wei)南(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)侯,王(wang)莽時(shi)位(wei)絕(jue)。東(dong)(dong)漢(han)置(zhi)南(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)縣,至北(bei)齊(qi)時(shi)并入南(nan)武(wu)陽(yang)縣。南(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)從東(dong)(dong)周到(dao)東(dong)(dong)漢(han),有(you)著500余年(nian)(nian)(nian)的(de)輝煌。
南(nan)(nan)武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)依山(shan)傍水(shui),地處要沖,自(zi)古就是(shi)兵(bing)家必爭之(zhi)地。據《左(zuo)傳》載,公(gong)元(yuan)前565年(nian)(nian)(nian)(魯(lu)(lu)襄公(gong)八年(nian)(nian)(nian)),吳國(guo)進攻(gong)魯(lu)(lu)國(guo),就是(shi)先(xian)占(zhan)南(nan)(nan)武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),然(ran)后揮師直抵泗水(shui),威逼魯(lu)(lu)都曲阜。公(gong)元(yuan)前519年(nian)(nian)(nian)(魯(lu)(lu)昭公(gong)二十三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)),“邾(zhu)人(ren)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)翼還,將(jiang)自(zi)離姑,武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)人(ren)塞其前。”駐武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的魯(lu)(lu)兵(bing)將(jiang)邾(zhu)人(ren)全部俘獲(huo)。公(gong)元(yuan)前487年(nian)(nian)(nian)(魯(lu)(lu)哀(ai)公(gong)八年(nian)(nian)(nian)),“吳伐我,道險,從武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。”西漢瑯琊人(ren)樊崇率赤眉軍占(zhan)領南(nan)(nan)武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),并以南(nan)(nan)武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)依托與(yu)官兵(bing)周旋。明末清初的農民起義領袖王(wang)肖武占(zhan)領南(nan)(nan)武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)自(zi)稱“九山(shan)王(wang)”,在此(ci)堅持斗(dou)爭達十數(shu)年(nian)(nian)(nian)之(zhi)久(jiu)。
南(nan)武(wu)城自古山川形(xing)勝,鐘靈(ling)毓秀,人(ren)(ren)才輩出,文武(wu)兼備。該地(di)是春秋(qiu)戰國時期儒家一(yi)(yi)代傳人(ren)(ren)“宗圣”曾參(can)和孔子(zi)另一(yi)(yi)高足澹(dan)臺滅明的(de)故(gu)里。孔子(zi)的(de)得意門生——子(zi)游(言(yan)偃,字子(zi)游)曾任(ren)武(wu)城宰。據《論(lun)語·陽貨篇(pian)》載,一(yi)(yi)次孔子(zi)到(dao)南(nan)武(wu)城,聽到(dao)彈琴唱歌之(zhi)生不(bu)絕于耳,看(kan)到(dao)一(yi)(yi)片繁榮景象,于是對子(zi)游開玩笑(xiao)說(shuo):“割雞焉用牛刀。”子(zi)游認(ren)真地(di)說(shuo):“昔者偃也聞(wen)諸夫子(zi)曰:‘君子(zi)學道則(ze)愛人(ren)(ren),小人(ren)(ren)學道則(ze)易使也。’”孔子(zi)忙(mang)說(shuo):“二三子(zi)!偃之(zhi)言(yan)是也。前言(yan)戲之(zhi)耳。”可見,南(nan)武(wu)城地(di)區的(de)文教事業已(yi)相當普(pu)及(ji),教育已(yi)在平民中(zhong)展開。
膾(kuai)炙人口的“曾子(zi)殺人”、“曾子(zi)殺豬(zhu)”、“慈(ci)母(mu)投梭”、“斬蛟投壁”等故事被(bei)世(shi)代傳頌,在國內外有廣(guang)泛的影響。
西晉(jin)著(zhu)名(ming)的政(zheng)治家、軍事家羊(yang)祜和(he)東(dong)晉(jin)著(zhu)名(ming)書法家羊(yang)欣的故里都是南武(wu)城,官(guan)修(xiu)《晉(jin)書》對此(ci)有(you)載(zai)。在南武(wu)城故城遺址東(dong)邊有(you)曾點墓和(he)澹臺滅明墓,昭示著(zhu)該地歷史的悠久(jiu)。
清代文人楊(yang)儀廷在《詠懷(huai)古跡》組詩(shi)中談南武城(cheng)故城(cheng)遺(yi)址時說:“當(dang)年此地起弦歌,以武名城(cheng)意若何?百(bai)里(li)巖(yan)疆資保(bao)障,四周山(shan)勢逼嵯峨。斬(zhan)蛟奮起畸人劍(jian),投杼偏停(ting)慈母梭。賴(lai)有勾(gou)吳賢邑(yi)宰,兩(liang)言(yan)學道總無頗。”(清光緒版(ban)《費縣(xian)志》卷十(shi)三第二(er)十(shi)五頁)