歷史上(shang)的(de)(de)一些(xie)典籍(ji),對(dui)南(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)稱謂(wei)有四:南(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)、武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)、南(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)、南(nan)成(cheng)。不(bu)(bu)同(tong)(tong)史籍(ji)對(dui)該城(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)稱謂(wei)不(bu)(bu)同(tong)(tong),有些(xie)書籍(ji)在不(bu)(bu)同(tong)(tong)卷次里也(ye)有不(bu)(bu)同(tong)(tong)的(de)(de)說法。根據古漢語的(de)(de)行(xing)文規則可知,武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)、南(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)、南(nan)成(cheng)均為南(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)之省筆。
根據史(shi)料(liao)考(kao)證,南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)的建城(cheng)時間在(zai)東周(zhou)中期(qi)的公(gong)(gong)(gong)元前554年(nian)(nian)(魯(lu)(lu)襄公(gong)(gong)(gong)十九年(nian)(nian))。此(ci)時,已處于春秋末期(qi),諸侯割(ge)據造成了周(zhou)王(wang)(wang)朝內部日趨動(dong)蕩(dang)不安,魯(lu)(lu)襄公(gong)(gong)(gong)為(wei)抵御齊(qi)(qi)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)而在(zai)這一戰(zhan)略要地(di)筑城(cheng)。據編年(nian)(nian)體史(shi)書(shu)《竹書(shu)紀年(nian)(nian)》載,公(gong)(gong)(gong)元前427年(nian)(nian)(周(zhou)考(kao)王(wang)(wang)十四年(nian)(nian)),作為(wei)魯(lu)(lu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)“三(san)桓”之(zhi)一的季(ji)孫后裔不甘(gan)心臣服魯(lu)(lu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)而自立(li)費國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo),南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)遂(sui)為(wei)費國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)所并(bing)。戰(zhan)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)時期(qi)曾被齊(qi)(qi)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)占領,成為(wei)齊(qi)(qi)、楚(chu)兩國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)邊境(jing)上(shang)的要隘。據《史(shi)記·田敬(jing)世(shi)家》載,公(gong)(gong)(gong)元前333年(nian)(nian)(齊(qi)(qi)威(wei)王(wang)(wang)二十四年(nian)(nian)),齊(qi)(qi)王(wang)(wang)與威(wei)王(wang)(wang)斗寶時說:“吾臣有(you)檀(tan)子(zi)者,使守(shou)南(nan)(nan)(nan)城(cheng),則楚(chu)人不敢為(wei)寇,東取泗上(shang)十二諸侯皆(jie)來(lai)朝。”將南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)的守(shou)將檀(tan)子(zi)喻為(wei)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)寶。公(gong)(gong)(gong)元前256年(nian)(nian)(周(zhou)郝王(wang)(wang)五十九年(nian)(nian))南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)隨(sui)魯(lu)(lu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)一同被楚(chu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)吞并(bing)。南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng),在(zai)秦代屬瑯琊(ya)郡(jun)。西漢(han)(han)屬東海(hai)郡(jun),為(wei)侯國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)(《漢(han)(han)書(shu)·地(di)理(li)志(zhi)》稱(cheng)南(nan)(nan)(nan)成),城(cheng)陽共王(wang)(wang)之(zhi)子(zi)劉貞被封(feng)為(wei)南(nan)(nan)(nan)城(cheng)侯,王(wang)(wang)莽(mang)時位絕。東漢(han)(han)置南(nan)(nan)(nan)城(cheng)縣,至北(bei)齊(qi)(qi)時并(bing)入南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)陽縣。南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)從東周(zhou)到東漢(han)(han),有(you)著500余年(nian)(nian)的輝煌。
南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)依山(shan)傍水(shui),地(di)處要沖,自古就(jiu)是兵(bing)家必爭之(zhi)地(di)。據《左(zuo)傳》載,公(gong)元前565年(nian)(魯襄(xiang)公(gong)八年(nian)),吳國(guo)進(jin)攻魯國(guo),就(jiu)是先占南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng),然(ran)后(hou)揮(hui)師直抵泗水(shui),威(wei)逼魯都曲阜。公(gong)元前519年(nian)(魯昭公(gong)二十(shi)三年(nian)),“邾(zhu)人城(cheng)(cheng)翼還,將(jiang)自離姑,武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)人塞(sai)其前。”駐(zhu)武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)的(de)魯兵(bing)將(jiang)邾(zhu)人全部俘獲。公(gong)元前487年(nian)(魯哀公(gong)八年(nian)),“吳伐我,道險,從(cong)武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)。”西漢瑯琊人樊(fan)崇(chong)率赤眉軍占領南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng),并(bing)以南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)為(wei)依托(tuo)與官(guan)兵(bing)周旋。明末清初(chu)的(de)農(nong)民(min)起義領袖王(wang)肖武(wu)占領南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)自稱“九山(shan)王(wang)”,在此堅持斗爭達十(shi)數年(nian)之(zhi)久。
南武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)自(zi)古山(shan)川形勝,鐘靈毓秀,人(ren)才輩出,文(wen)(wen)武(wu)(wu)兼(jian)備。該地是春秋戰國(guo)時期(qi)儒(ru)家一(yi)(yi)(yi)代傳人(ren)“宗圣”曾(ceng)參和孔子另一(yi)(yi)(yi)高足(zu)澹(dan)臺滅(mie)明的(de)故里(li)。孔子的(de)得意門生——子游(you)(言偃,字子游(you))曾(ceng)任(ren)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)宰。據《論語·陽(yang)貨篇》載,一(yi)(yi)(yi)次孔子到南武(wu)(wu)城(cheng),聽到彈琴唱歌(ge)之(zhi)生不絕于耳,看到一(yi)(yi)(yi)片繁榮景象,于是對子游(you)開(kai)玩笑說(shuo):“割雞焉用牛刀。”子游(you)認真地說(shuo):“昔者偃也(ye)聞諸夫子曰:‘君子學(xue)道則愛人(ren),小人(ren)學(xue)道則易使也(ye)。’”孔子忙(mang)說(shuo):“二三子!偃之(zhi)言是也(ye)。前言戲之(zhi)耳。”可(ke)見,南武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)地區的(de)文(wen)(wen)教事(shi)業已(yi)相(xiang)當普(pu)及,教育(yu)已(yi)在平民中展開(kai)。
膾炙(zhi)人口的“曾子(zi)殺(sha)人”、“曾子(zi)殺(sha)豬”、“慈母投梭”、“斬(zhan)蛟投壁”等故事被世(shi)代傳頌(song),在(zai)國內外(wai)有廣泛的影響。
西晉著名(ming)的(de)(de)政治(zhi)家(jia)、軍事家(jia)羊祜和東(dong)晉著名(ming)書(shu)法家(jia)羊欣的(de)(de)故(gu)里都(dou)是(shi)南武城,官修(xiu)《晉書(shu)》對此(ci)有載。在南武城故(gu)城遺址東(dong)邊有曾點(dian)墓(mu)和澹(dan)臺滅明墓(mu),昭示(shi)著該地歷史(shi)的(de)(de)悠久。
清代文(wen)人楊儀廷在《詠懷古跡(ji)》組(zu)詩中談(tan)南武(wu)城(cheng)故城(cheng)遺址時說(shuo):“當年(nian)此地起弦(xian)歌,以武(wu)名城(cheng)意若何?百里巖疆資(zi)保障,四(si)周山(shan)勢逼嵯峨。斬蛟奮起畸人劍(jian),投杼偏停(ting)慈母梭。賴有勾吳賢邑宰,兩言學道總無頗。”(清光緒版《費縣(xian)志》卷十三第(di)二十五(wu)頁)