楚(chu)(chu)國(guo)的都城已(yi)被晉(jin)國(guo)的兵馬圍困三(san)年(nian)(nian)。晉(jin)國(guo)出(chu)兵伐楚(chu)(chu),是(shi)(shi)(shi)想(xiang)得(de)(de)到楚(chu)(chu)國(guo)的鎮國(guo)之(zhi)(zhi)寶:泰阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)。世(shi)人都說,泰阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)是(shi)(shi)(shi)歐(ou)冶(ye)子和干將兩大劍(jian)(jian)師(shi)聯手(shou)所鑄。但是(shi)(shi)(shi)兩位大師(shi)卻不(bu)這(zhe)樣(yang)認為,他們說泰阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)是(shi)(shi)(shi)一把諸侯(hou)威道之(zhi)(zhi)劍(jian)(jian)早(zao)已(yi)存在,只是(shi)(shi)(shi)無形(xing)、無跡,但是(shi)(shi)(shi)劍(jian)(jian)氣早(zao)已(yi)存于天地(di)之(zhi)(zhi)間,只等待(dai)時(shi)機凝(ning)聚起來,天時(shi)、地(di)利、人和三(san)道歸一,此劍(jian)(jian)即成。晉(jin)國(guo)當時(shi)最為強大,晉(jin)君當然(ran)認為自己最有資格(ge)得(de)(de)到這(zhe)把寶劍(jian)(jian),但是(shi)(shi)(shi)事與愿(yuan)違,此劍(jian)(jian)卻在弱(ruo)小的楚(chu)(chu)國(guo)鑄成,出(chu)劍(jian)(jian)之(zhi)(zhi)時(shi),劍(jian)(jian)身果然(ran)天然(ran)鐫刻篆體“泰阿(a)”二字,可(ke)見歐(ou)冶(ye)子、干將所言不(bu)虛。晉(jin)君當然(ran)咽不(bu)下(xia)這(zhe)口氣,于是(shi)(shi)(shi)向楚(chu)(chu)王(wang)索劍(jian)(jian),楚(chu)(chu)王(wang)拒絕,于是(shi)(shi)(shi)晉(jin)君出(chu)兵伐楚(chu)(chu),欲以索劍(jian)(jian)為名借(jie)機滅掉(diao)楚(chu)(chu)國(guo)。兵力懸殊,楚(chu)(chu)國(guo)大部分城池很快陷落并(bing)且都城也被團團圍住,一困三(san)年(nian)(nian)。城里糧草告罄,兵革無存,危(wei)在旦夕。
這一天(tian)(tian),晉(jin)國(guo)派來(lai)使者發出(chu)最后通牒:如(ru)再不(bu)交劍(jian)(jian)(jian),明(ming)(ming)天(tian)(tian)將(jiang)攻(gong)陷此(ci)城(cheng),到(dao)時玉石俱(ju)焚!楚(chu)王(wang)(wang)(wang)不(bu)屈,吩咐左右(you)明(ming)(ming)天(tian)(tian)自(zi)(zi)己要(yao)親上(shang)城(cheng)頭(tou)(tou)殺敵,如(ru)果城(cheng)破,自(zi)(zi)己將(jiang)用此(ci)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)自(zi)(zi)刎,然(ran)后左右(you)要(yao)拾得此(ci)劍(jian)(jian)(jian),騎快馬(ma)奔到(dao)太湖,將(jiang)此(ci)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)沉入湖底,讓泰(tai)阿劍(jian)(jian)(jian)永留楚(chu)國(guo)。第二(er)天(tian)(tian)拂(fu)曉,楚(chu)王(wang)(wang)(wang)登上(shang)城(cheng)頭(tou)(tou),只見(jian)城(cheng)外晉(jin)國(guo)兵馬(ma)遮天(tian)(tian)蔽日,自(zi)(zi)己的都城(cheng)宛(wan)如(ru)汪洋(yang)之中的一葉扁舟,隨時有傾(qing)滅危險。晉(jin)國(guo)兵馬(ma)開始攻(gong)城(cheng),吶喊聲如(ru)同山呼海嘯,城(cheng)破在(zai)即。楚(chu)王(wang)(wang)(wang)雙手捧劍(jian)(jian)(jian),長嘆一聲:泰(tai)阿劍(jian)(jian)(jian),泰(tai)阿劍(jian)(jian)(jian),我今天(tian)(tian)將(jiang)用自(zi)(zi)己的鮮血來(lai)祭你!于是,拔劍(jian)(jian)(jian)出(chu)鞘,引劍(jian)(jian)(jian)直指敵軍。匪夷(yi)所思的奇跡出(chu)現(xian),只見(jian)一團磅礴劍(jian)(jian)(jian)氣激射而出(chu),城(cheng)外霎時飛(fei)沙(sha)走石,遮天(tian)(tian)蔽日,似有猛(meng)獸(shou)咆(pao)哮其中,晉(jin)國(guo)兵馬(ma)大亂(luan),片刻之后,旌旗仆地,流血千里,全軍覆(fu)沒(mei)。這件事情過后,楚(chu)王(wang)(wang)(wang)召(zhao)來(lai)國(guo)中智(zhi)者風胡(hu)子問道:泰(tai)阿劍(jian)(jian)(jian)為何(he)會有如(ru)此(ci)之威?
風(feng)胡子說:泰阿(a)(a)劍(jian)是(shi)(shi)(shi)一把威(wei)道之劍(jian),而內心(xin)之威(wei)才是(shi)(shi)(shi)真威(wei),大王身處逆境威(wei)武不屈,正是(shi)(shi)(shi)內心(xin)之威(wei)的(de)(de)卓(zhuo)越表現。正是(shi)(shi)(shi)大王的(de)(de)內心(xin)之威(wei),激發出泰阿(a)(a)劍(jian)的(de)(de)劍(jian)氣之威(wei)!見于《越絕書》。
《史(shi)記(ji)·李(li)斯列傳(chuan)》記(ji)載“今(jin)陛下致昆山之玉(yu),有隨和之寶,垂明(ming)月之珠(zhu),服太(tai)阿之劍(jian)。”。這句話的(de)意思是說秦始皇得到的(de)昆山寶玉(yu)有瑞光(guang),堪比明(ming)月,可(ke)至太(tai)阿。
秦始(shi)(shi)皇(huang)曾配寶劍。死后大量陪(pei)葬。很(hen)多(duo)寶貝都(dou)(dou)跟著埋入始(shi)(shi)皇(huang)地(di)宮,后來楚漢(han)相爭,楚霸王項羽(yu)(yu)搶劫阿房(fang)(fang)宮,把里面(mian)很(hen)多(duo)的寶貝都(dou)(dou)帶出來。相傳(chuan),項羽(yu)(yu)用三(san)十萬人,拉(la)了三(san)天都(dou)(dou)沒把阿房(fang)(fang)宮內(nei)的寶貝拉(la)完(wan),這一點(dian),在酈(li)道(dao)元的《水(shui)經(jing)注》的渭水(shui)段也有記(ji)載(zai),項羽(yu)(yu)后來火(huo)燒(shao)阿房(fang)(fang)宮。
有成(cheng)語“泰(tai)阿(a)倒持”,意為“倒拿著(zhu)劍(jian),把劍(jian)柄給別人(ren)。把大權交給別人(ren),自己反受(shou)其害。”所以(yi),泰(tai)阿(a)劍(jian)又(you)被(bei)命名(ming)為太阿(a)劍(jian)。