楚(chu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)的都城(cheng)已被晉(jin)(jin)(jin)國(guo)(guo)(guo)的兵馬圍困(kun)三(san)年(nian)。晉(jin)(jin)(jin)國(guo)(guo)(guo)出(chu)(chu)兵伐楚(chu),是(shi)(shi)(shi)想得(de)到楚(chu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)的鎮國(guo)(guo)(guo)之(zhi)寶:泰(tai)(tai)阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)。世人(ren)都說,泰(tai)(tai)阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)是(shi)(shi)(shi)歐冶子和(he)(he)干將兩大劍(jian)(jian)師(shi)(shi)聯手(shou)所鑄(zhu)。但(dan)是(shi)(shi)(shi)兩位大師(shi)(shi)卻不這(zhe)(zhe)樣認為(wei),他們說泰(tai)(tai)阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)是(shi)(shi)(shi)一(yi)把諸侯威道之(zhi)劍(jian)(jian)早已存(cun)(cun)在(zai),只是(shi)(shi)(shi)無(wu)形、無(wu)跡,但(dan)是(shi)(shi)(shi)劍(jian)(jian)氣(qi)早已存(cun)(cun)于(yu)天(tian)地(di)之(zhi)間,只等待(dai)時機凝聚(ju)起來,天(tian)時、地(di)利(li)、人(ren)和(he)(he)三(san)道歸一(yi),此劍(jian)(jian)即成。晉(jin)(jin)(jin)國(guo)(guo)(guo)當時最為(wei)強大,晉(jin)(jin)(jin)君當然(ran)(ran)認為(wei)自(zi)己最有資格得(de)到這(zhe)(zhe)把寶劍(jian)(jian),但(dan)是(shi)(shi)(shi)事與愿違,此劍(jian)(jian)卻在(zai)弱小的楚(chu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)鑄(zhu)成,出(chu)(chu)劍(jian)(jian)之(zhi)時,劍(jian)(jian)身(shen)果然(ran)(ran)天(tian)然(ran)(ran)鐫刻(ke)篆體“泰(tai)(tai)阿(a)”二字,可見歐冶子、干將所言(yan)不虛。晉(jin)(jin)(jin)君當然(ran)(ran)咽不下這(zhe)(zhe)口氣(qi),于(yu)是(shi)(shi)(shi)向楚(chu)王索(suo)劍(jian)(jian),楚(chu)王拒絕,于(yu)是(shi)(shi)(shi)晉(jin)(jin)(jin)君出(chu)(chu)兵伐楚(chu),欲以索(suo)劍(jian)(jian)為(wei)名借機滅(mie)掉楚(chu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)。兵力懸殊,楚(chu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)大部(bu)分城(cheng)池很快陷落并且都城(cheng)也被團(tuan)團(tuan)圍住,一(yi)困(kun)三(san)年(nian)。城(cheng)里糧草告罄,兵革無(wu)存(cun)(cun),危(wei)在(zai)旦(dan)夕。
這一(yi)(yi)天(tian),晉國(guo)派來使者(zhe)發(fa)出最后(hou)通牒:如(ru)(ru)(ru)再不交劍(jian)(jian)(jian),明天(tian)將(jiang)攻(gong)(gong)陷(xian)此(ci)城,到(dao)時玉石俱焚!楚王(wang)不屈,吩咐左(zuo)右明天(tian)自(zi)(zi)己(ji)要親(qin)上(shang)城頭殺敵(di),如(ru)(ru)(ru)果城破,自(zi)(zi)己(ji)將(jiang)用此(ci)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)自(zi)(zi)刎(wen),然后(hou)左(zuo)右要拾得此(ci)劍(jian)(jian)(jian),騎(qi)快馬奔到(dao)太湖(hu),將(jiang)此(ci)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)沉入(ru)湖(hu)底,讓泰(tai)阿劍(jian)(jian)(jian)永留楚國(guo)。第(di)二天(tian)拂曉,楚王(wang)登上(shang)城頭,只(zhi)見(jian)城外晉國(guo)兵馬遮天(tian)蔽(bi)日(ri),自(zi)(zi)己(ji)的(de)都城宛如(ru)(ru)(ru)汪洋之(zhi)中的(de)一(yi)(yi)葉扁舟(zhou),隨時有傾滅危(wei)險(xian)。晉國(guo)兵馬開始(shi)攻(gong)(gong)城,吶喊(han)聲如(ru)(ru)(ru)同山(shan)呼海嘯(xiao),城破在即(ji)。楚王(wang)雙手(shou)捧劍(jian)(jian)(jian),長嘆一(yi)(yi)聲:泰(tai)阿劍(jian)(jian)(jian),泰(tai)阿劍(jian)(jian)(jian),我今天(tian)將(jiang)用自(zi)(zi)己(ji)的(de)鮮血來祭你!于是,拔劍(jian)(jian)(jian)出鞘,引(yin)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)直指敵(di)軍(jun)。匪(fei)夷所思的(de)奇跡出現(xian),只(zhi)見(jian)一(yi)(yi)團磅(bang)礴劍(jian)(jian)(jian)氣激射而出,城外霎(sha)時飛(fei)沙走(zou)石,遮天(tian)蔽(bi)日(ri),似有猛(meng)獸咆哮其中,晉國(guo)兵馬大(da)亂,片刻之(zhi)后(hou),旌(jing)旗仆(pu)地,流(liu)血千里(li),全(quan)軍(jun)覆沒。這件事情過后(hou),楚王(wang)召來國(guo)中智者(zhe)風(feng)胡子問(wen)道(dao):泰(tai)阿劍(jian)(jian)(jian)為何(he)會(hui)有如(ru)(ru)(ru)此(ci)之(zhi)威?
風(feng)胡子(zi)說(shuo):泰阿(a)劍是一把威道(dao)之(zhi)劍,而內心之(zhi)威才是真威,大王(wang)身處(chu)逆境威武不屈(qu),正是內心之(zhi)威的卓越(yue)表現。正是大王(wang)的內心之(zhi)威,激發出泰阿(a)劍的劍氣之(zhi)威!見(jian)于《越(yue)絕書》。
《史(shi)記·李斯列傳(chuan)》記載“今(jin)陛下致昆山之玉,有隨和之寶(bao),垂明(ming)(ming)月(yue)之珠(zhu),服(fu)太阿(a)之劍。”。這句話的意(yi)思(si)是說秦始皇得到的昆山寶(bao)玉有瑞光,堪比(bi)明(ming)(ming)月(yue),可(ke)至太阿(a)。
秦(qin)始(shi)皇曾配(pei)寶劍。死后大量陪葬。很多寶貝(bei)都(dou)跟著埋入始(shi)皇地(di)宮(gong)(gong),后來楚(chu)漢(han)相(xiang)(xiang)爭,楚(chu)霸(ba)王項羽搶劫阿(a)房宮(gong)(gong),把里面很多的(de)寶貝(bei)都(dou)帶出來。相(xiang)(xiang)傳,項羽用三(san)十萬人(ren),拉了三(san)天都(dou)沒(mei)把阿(a)房宮(gong)(gong)內的(de)寶貝(bei)拉完,這一(yi)點,在酈道(dao)元的(de)《水(shui)經(jing)注》的(de)渭(wei)水(shui)段也有記載,項羽后來火燒阿(a)房宮(gong)(gong)。
有成語“泰(tai)阿(a)倒(dao)持”,意為(wei)“倒(dao)拿著(zhu)劍(jian)(jian),把(ba)劍(jian)(jian)柄給別人。把(ba)大權交給別人,自己反受其(qi)害。”所以(yi),泰(tai)阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)又被命名為(wei)太阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)。