歷史上的一些(xie)典籍(ji),對南武城(cheng)(cheng)的稱謂有(you)四:南武城(cheng)(cheng)、武城(cheng)(cheng)、南城(cheng)(cheng)、南成。不(bu)(bu)同(tong)(tong)史籍(ji)對該城(cheng)(cheng)的稱謂不(bu)(bu)同(tong)(tong),有(you)些(xie)書(shu)籍(ji)在不(bu)(bu)同(tong)(tong)卷次里也有(you)不(bu)(bu)同(tong)(tong)的說法。根據(ju)古漢語的行文規則可知,武城(cheng)(cheng)、南城(cheng)(cheng)、南成均為南武城(cheng)(cheng)之省筆。
根據史料考證,南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)建城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)時(shi)(shi)間在東(dong)(dong)(dong)周(zhou)中期的(de)(de)(de)公(gong)(gong)元前(qian)554年(nian)(nian)(魯(lu)(lu)襄公(gong)(gong)十(shi)九(jiu)(jiu)年(nian)(nian))。此(ci)時(shi)(shi),已處(chu)于(yu)春秋末期,諸侯(hou)(hou)割據造(zao)成了(le)周(zhou)王朝內部(bu)日趨動蕩不(bu)(bu)安,魯(lu)(lu)襄公(gong)(gong)為(wei)(wei)抵御齊(qi)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)而(er)在這一戰略要地(di)筑(zhu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。據編年(nian)(nian)體史書《竹(zhu)書紀年(nian)(nian)》載,公(gong)(gong)元前(qian)427年(nian)(nian)(周(zhou)考王十(shi)四年(nian)(nian)),作為(wei)(wei)魯(lu)(lu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)“三桓”之(zhi)一的(de)(de)(de)季孫后裔不(bu)(bu)甘心(xin)臣(chen)服(fu)魯(lu)(lu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)而(er)自立費(fei)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo),南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)遂為(wei)(wei)費(fei)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)所并。戰國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)時(shi)(shi)期曾(ceng)被(bei)齊(qi)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)占(zhan)領,成為(wei)(wei)齊(qi)、楚(chu)兩國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)邊境上的(de)(de)(de)要隘。據《史記·田敬世家》載,公(gong)(gong)元前(qian)333年(nian)(nian)(齊(qi)威王二十(shi)四年(nian)(nian)),齊(qi)王與威王斗寶時(shi)(shi)說:“吾臣(chen)有檀子(zi)者,使守(shou)南(nan)(nan)(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),則(ze)楚(chu)人不(bu)(bu)敢為(wei)(wei)寇,東(dong)(dong)(dong)取(qu)泗上十(shi)二諸侯(hou)(hou)皆來朝。”將南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)守(shou)將檀子(zi)喻為(wei)(wei)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)寶。公(gong)(gong)元前(qian)256年(nian)(nian)(周(zhou)郝(hao)王五十(shi)九(jiu)(jiu)年(nian)(nian))南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)隨魯(lu)(lu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)一同(tong)被(bei)楚(chu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)吞并。南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),在秦(qin)代(dai)屬(shu)(shu)瑯(lang)琊(ya)郡。西漢(han)屬(shu)(shu)東(dong)(dong)(dong)海(hai)郡,為(wei)(wei)侯(hou)(hou)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)(《漢(han)書·地(di)理志》稱南(nan)(nan)(nan)成),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)陽共王之(zhi)子(zi)劉貞(zhen)被(bei)封為(wei)(wei)南(nan)(nan)(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)侯(hou)(hou),王莽時(shi)(shi)位絕。東(dong)(dong)(dong)漢(han)置南(nan)(nan)(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)縣,至北齊(qi)時(shi)(shi)并入南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)陽縣。南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)從東(dong)(dong)(dong)周(zhou)到(dao)東(dong)(dong)(dong)漢(han),有著500余(yu)年(nian)(nian)的(de)(de)(de)輝煌(huang)。
南武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)依(yi)山(shan)傍(bang)水,地(di)處要(yao)沖,自古就(jiu)(jiu)是兵家必爭之(zhi)(zhi)地(di)。據《左傳》載(zai),公(gong)(gong)元(yuan)前565年(nian)(nian)(魯(lu)襄公(gong)(gong)八(ba)年(nian)(nian)),吳(wu)(wu)國進攻魯(lu)國,就(jiu)(jiu)是先占南武(wu)(wu)城(cheng),然后揮師直(zhi)抵泗水,威逼魯(lu)都(dou)曲阜。公(gong)(gong)元(yuan)前519年(nian)(nian)(魯(lu)昭公(gong)(gong)二十三年(nian)(nian)),“邾人(ren)(ren)城(cheng)翼還,將自離姑,武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)人(ren)(ren)塞其前。”駐武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)的魯(lu)兵將邾人(ren)(ren)全部俘(fu)獲。公(gong)(gong)元(yuan)前487年(nian)(nian)(魯(lu)哀公(gong)(gong)八(ba)年(nian)(nian)),“吳(wu)(wu)伐我,道險,從武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)。”西漢瑯(lang)琊人(ren)(ren)樊(fan)崇率(lv)赤(chi)眉軍(jun)占領(ling)南武(wu)(wu)城(cheng),并以南武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)為(wei)依(yi)托(tuo)與官兵周旋。明末清(qing)初的農民起義領(ling)袖王(wang)(wang)肖武(wu)(wu)占領(ling)南武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)自稱“九山(shan)王(wang)(wang)”,在此堅持斗(dou)爭達十數年(nian)(nian)之(zhi)(zhi)久(jiu)。
南武(wu)(wu)城自古山川形勝,鐘靈毓秀,人(ren)才輩出(chu),文武(wu)(wu)兼備。該(gai)地(di)(di)是春秋戰國時期儒家(jia)一代傳人(ren)“宗圣”曾參和(he)孔子(zi)(zi)(zi)另一高足澹(dan)臺(tai)滅明的(de)故里。孔子(zi)(zi)(zi)的(de)得意門生——子(zi)(zi)(zi)游(you)(言偃(yan),字子(zi)(zi)(zi)游(you))曾任武(wu)(wu)城宰。據(ju)《論(lun)語·陽貨篇(pian)》載(zai),一次孔子(zi)(zi)(zi)到(dao)南武(wu)(wu)城,聽到(dao)彈琴唱(chang)歌之生不絕(jue)于耳(er)(er),看到(dao)一片繁榮景象,于是對子(zi)(zi)(zi)游(you)開玩笑(xiao)說(shuo):“割(ge)雞焉用牛刀(dao)。”子(zi)(zi)(zi)游(you)認(ren)真地(di)(di)說(shuo):“昔者(zhe)偃(yan)也聞(wen)諸夫子(zi)(zi)(zi)曰(yue):‘君子(zi)(zi)(zi)學道則愛人(ren),小人(ren)學道則易(yi)使(shi)也。’”孔子(zi)(zi)(zi)忙說(shuo):“二三子(zi)(zi)(zi)!偃(yan)之言是也。前(qian)言戲之耳(er)(er)。”可見,南武(wu)(wu)城地(di)(di)區的(de)文教事業已相當普(pu)及,教育已在平民中(zhong)展(zhan)開。
膾炙(zhi)人口的“曾(ceng)(ceng)子(zi)殺人”、“曾(ceng)(ceng)子(zi)殺豬”、“慈母投(tou)(tou)梭”、“斬蛟投(tou)(tou)壁”等(deng)故事被(bei)世代傳頌,在(zai)國內(nei)外(wai)有廣(guang)泛的影響。
西晉著名(ming)的(de)政(zheng)治家、軍事(shi)家羊(yang)祜和(he)東(dong)晉著名(ming)書法家羊(yang)欣的(de)故里都是南武(wu)城,官修(xiu)《晉書》對此有(you)載。在南武(wu)城故城遺址(zhi)東(dong)邊(bian)有(you)曾(ceng)點墓和(he)澹臺滅明墓,昭(zhao)示著該地(di)歷史的(de)悠久(jiu)。
清(qing)代文人楊儀廷在《詠懷古(gu)跡》組詩中談(tan)南武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)故城(cheng)(cheng)遺址時說(shuo):“當年此地起(qi)弦歌,以武(wu)名(ming)城(cheng)(cheng)意若(ruo)何?百里(li)巖(yan)疆資保障,四周山(shan)勢逼嵯峨。斬(zhan)蛟奮(fen)起(qi)畸人劍,投杼偏停慈母梭。賴有勾(gou)吳賢邑宰,兩言學道總(zong)無頗。”(清(qing)光緒版《費縣志》卷十(shi)三第二十(shi)五頁(ye))