歷史上(shang)的(de)一(yi)些典籍(ji)(ji),對(dui)南武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)稱謂(wei)有四(si):南武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、南城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、南成。不同(tong)(tong)(tong)史籍(ji)(ji)對(dui)該城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)稱謂(wei)不同(tong)(tong)(tong),有些書籍(ji)(ji)在不同(tong)(tong)(tong)卷(juan)次里也有不同(tong)(tong)(tong)的(de)說法。根據古漢語(yu)的(de)行文規則可知,武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、南城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、南成均為南武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)之(zhi)省筆(bi)。
根據史(shi)料考(kao)證,南(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)建城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)時(shi)間(jian)在東(dong)(dong)周(zhou)(zhou)中(zhong)期的(de)公(gong)(gong)元前554年(nian)(魯襄公(gong)(gong)十九年(nian))。此時(shi),已處于春秋末(mo)期,諸(zhu)侯割(ge)據造成(cheng)了周(zhou)(zhou)王朝內部日趨動蕩不(bu)安,魯襄公(gong)(gong)為(wei)抵御齊(qi)(qi)(qi)國(guo)(guo)(guo)而在這一(yi)戰(zhan)略要(yao)地筑(zhu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。據編年(nian)體史(shi)書(shu)《竹(zhu)書(shu)紀(ji)年(nian)》載(zai)(zai),公(gong)(gong)元前427年(nian)(周(zhou)(zhou)考(kao)王十四年(nian)),作為(wei)魯國(guo)(guo)(guo)“三(san)桓”之(zhi)一(yi)的(de)季孫后裔(yi)不(bu)甘心臣服魯國(guo)(guo)(guo)而自立(li)費國(guo)(guo)(guo),南(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)遂(sui)為(wei)費國(guo)(guo)(guo)所并(bing)。戰(zhan)國(guo)(guo)(guo)時(shi)期曾被(bei)齊(qi)(qi)(qi)國(guo)(guo)(guo)占領,成(cheng)為(wei)齊(qi)(qi)(qi)、楚(chu)兩國(guo)(guo)(guo)邊境上(shang)的(de)要(yao)隘(ai)。據《史(shi)記·田敬世(shi)家》載(zai)(zai),公(gong)(gong)元前333年(nian)(齊(qi)(qi)(qi)威(wei)王二(er)十四年(nian)),齊(qi)(qi)(qi)王與威(wei)王斗寶時(shi)說:“吾臣有檀(tan)子者,使守南(nan)(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),則(ze)楚(chu)人不(bu)敢為(wei)寇,東(dong)(dong)取泗上(shang)十二(er)諸(zhu)侯皆(jie)來(lai)朝。”將(jiang)南(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)守將(jiang)檀(tan)子喻為(wei)國(guo)(guo)(guo)寶。公(gong)(gong)元前256年(nian)(周(zhou)(zhou)郝王五十九年(nian))南(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)隨魯國(guo)(guo)(guo)一(yi)同被(bei)楚(chu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)吞并(bing)。南(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),在秦(qin)代屬瑯(lang)琊(ya)郡。西漢屬東(dong)(dong)海郡,為(wei)侯國(guo)(guo)(guo)(《漢書(shu)·地理(li)志》稱南(nan)(nan)成(cheng)),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)陽(yang)共王之(zhi)子劉貞(zhen)被(bei)封為(wei)南(nan)(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)侯,王莽時(shi)位絕。東(dong)(dong)漢置南(nan)(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)縣(xian),至(zhi)北齊(qi)(qi)(qi)時(shi)并(bing)入南(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)陽(yang)縣(xian)。南(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)從東(dong)(dong)周(zhou)(zhou)到東(dong)(dong)漢,有著500余年(nian)的(de)輝煌(huang)。
南(nan)武(wu)城依山傍水(shui),地(di)處要(yao)沖,自(zi)(zi)古就(jiu)是兵(bing)(bing)家必爭(zheng)之(zhi)地(di)。據《左傳》載,公(gong)元前565年(魯(lu)襄公(gong)八年),吳國進(jin)攻(gong)魯(lu)國,就(jiu)是先占(zhan)(zhan)南(nan)武(wu)城,然后揮師直抵泗水(shui),威(wei)逼魯(lu)都曲(qu)阜。公(gong)元前519年(魯(lu)昭公(gong)二十三(san)年),“邾人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)城翼還(huan),將自(zi)(zi)離姑,武(wu)城人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)塞其(qi)前。”駐武(wu)城的(de)魯(lu)兵(bing)(bing)將邾人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)全部(bu)俘獲。公(gong)元前487年(魯(lu)哀(ai)公(gong)八年),“吳伐(fa)我(wo),道險,從武(wu)城。”西漢瑯琊人(ren)(ren)(ren)(ren)樊崇(chong)率赤眉軍(jun)占(zhan)(zhan)領南(nan)武(wu)城,并以南(nan)武(wu)城為依托與官兵(bing)(bing)周旋(xuan)。明末清初的(de)農(nong)民起義領袖王肖武(wu)占(zhan)(zhan)領南(nan)武(wu)城自(zi)(zi)稱“九山王”,在此堅(jian)持(chi)斗爭(zheng)達十數年之(zhi)久。
南(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)自(zi)古山川(chuan)形勝,鐘靈毓(yu)秀(xiu),人才輩出,文(wen)武(wu)(wu)兼(jian)備。該(gai)地(di)是春秋戰國時期儒家一(yi)代傳人“宗圣(sheng)”曾(ceng)參和(he)孔(kong)(kong)(kong)子(zi)(zi)另一(yi)高(gao)足(zu)澹臺滅明(ming)的(de)故里。孔(kong)(kong)(kong)子(zi)(zi)的(de)得意(yi)門生(sheng)——子(zi)(zi)游(言偃(yan),字子(zi)(zi)游)曾(ceng)任武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)宰。據(ju)《論語·陽(yang)貨篇》載,一(yi)次孔(kong)(kong)(kong)子(zi)(zi)到(dao)南(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng),聽到(dao)彈(dan)琴唱歌之(zhi)生(sheng)不絕于耳(er),看到(dao)一(yi)片(pian)繁榮景象,于是對子(zi)(zi)游開玩(wan)笑說:“割雞焉用牛(niu)刀。”子(zi)(zi)游認真地(di)說:“昔者偃(yan)也聞諸夫子(zi)(zi)曰:‘君子(zi)(zi)學道(dao)則愛(ai)人,小人學道(dao)則易使也。’”孔(kong)(kong)(kong)子(zi)(zi)忙(mang)說:“二三子(zi)(zi)!偃(yan)之(zhi)言是也。前(qian)言戲(xi)之(zhi)耳(er)。”可見(jian),南(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)地(di)區的(de)文(wen)教(jiao)事(shi)業已(yi)相(xiang)當普及,教(jiao)育(yu)已(yi)在(zai)平(ping)民中展開。
膾炙人口的“曾子(zi)殺人”、“曾子(zi)殺豬”、“慈(ci)母投(tou)梭”、“斬蛟投(tou)壁(bi)”等故(gu)事被世代(dai)傳(chuan)頌,在國(guo)內外有(you)廣泛(fan)的影響。
西晉著(zhu)(zhu)名的(de)政(zheng)治家(jia)(jia)、軍事家(jia)(jia)羊(yang)祜和(he)東晉著(zhu)(zhu)名書法家(jia)(jia)羊(yang)欣的(de)故里都是南(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng),官修(xiu)《晉書》對(dui)此(ci)有(you)載。在南(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)故城(cheng)(cheng)遺址東邊有(you)曾(ceng)點墓和(he)澹臺滅(mie)明(ming)墓,昭示著(zhu)(zhu)該(gai)地歷(li)史的(de)悠久。
清(qing)代文人楊儀廷在《詠懷(huai)古跡》組詩(shi)中談南武(wu)城(cheng)故城(cheng)遺址時說(shuo):“當年(nian)此地(di)起弦歌,以武(wu)名城(cheng)意若何?百里巖(yan)疆(jiang)資(zi)保障,四周山勢(shi)逼嵯(cuo)峨(e)。斬(zhan)蛟(jiao)奮起畸人劍(jian),投杼(zhu)偏停(ting)慈母梭(suo)。賴有勾吳賢邑宰,兩言學道總無頗。”(清(qing)光緒(xu)版《費縣志》卷(juan)十三第二十五頁)