歷(li)史上(shang)的一些典籍,對南(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)的稱謂有(you)四:南(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)、武(wu)城(cheng)、南(nan)(nan)城(cheng)、南(nan)(nan)成。不同史籍對該城(cheng)的稱謂不同,有(you)些書籍在(zai)不同卷次(ci)里也有(you)不同的說(shuo)法。根(gen)據古漢(han)語的行文規則可(ke)知(zhi),武(wu)城(cheng)、南(nan)(nan)城(cheng)、南(nan)(nan)成均(jun)為(wei)南(nan)(nan)武(wu)城(cheng)之省筆。
根據(ju)(ju)史(shi)料考(kao)(kao)證,南(nan)(nan)(nan)武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)建城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)時(shi)(shi)(shi)間在(zai)(zai)東(dong)周(zhou)(zhou)中期的(de)(de)公(gong)元前(qian)554年(nian)(魯(lu)襄公(gong)十(shi)九年(nian))。此時(shi)(shi)(shi),已處于春秋末期,諸(zhu)侯割據(ju)(ju)造成了周(zhou)(zhou)王(wang)朝(chao)內部日趨動(dong)蕩不(bu)安(an),魯(lu)襄公(gong)為(wei)(wei)(wei)抵御(yu)齊(qi)(qi)(qi)國(guo)(guo)而在(zai)(zai)這一(yi)戰略(lve)要地(di)筑城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。據(ju)(ju)編年(nian)體史(shi)書《竹書紀(ji)年(nian)》載,公(gong)元前(qian)427年(nian)(周(zhou)(zhou)考(kao)(kao)王(wang)十(shi)四年(nian)),作(zuo)為(wei)(wei)(wei)魯(lu)國(guo)(guo)“三桓”之(zhi)一(yi)的(de)(de)季孫后(hou)裔不(bu)甘心臣(chen)服魯(lu)國(guo)(guo)而自(zi)立費國(guo)(guo),南(nan)(nan)(nan)武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)遂為(wei)(wei)(wei)費國(guo)(guo)所并(bing)。戰國(guo)(guo)時(shi)(shi)(shi)期曾被齊(qi)(qi)(qi)國(guo)(guo)占領,成為(wei)(wei)(wei)齊(qi)(qi)(qi)、楚兩(liang)國(guo)(guo)邊(bian)境上的(de)(de)要隘(ai)。據(ju)(ju)《史(shi)記·田敬世家》載,公(gong)元前(qian)333年(nian)(齊(qi)(qi)(qi)威王(wang)二(er)十(shi)四年(nian)),齊(qi)(qi)(qi)王(wang)與威王(wang)斗寶(bao)時(shi)(shi)(shi)說:“吾臣(chen)有(you)檀子(zi)(zi)者,使守南(nan)(nan)(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),則(ze)楚人不(bu)敢(gan)為(wei)(wei)(wei)寇,東(dong)取(qu)泗上十(shi)二(er)諸(zhu)侯皆來朝(chao)。”將南(nan)(nan)(nan)武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)守將檀子(zi)(zi)喻為(wei)(wei)(wei)國(guo)(guo)寶(bao)。公(gong)元前(qian)256年(nian)(周(zhou)(zhou)郝王(wang)五十(shi)九年(nian))南(nan)(nan)(nan)武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)隨魯(lu)國(guo)(guo)一(yi)同被楚國(guo)(guo)吞并(bing)。南(nan)(nan)(nan)武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),在(zai)(zai)秦代屬瑯琊郡(jun)。西漢屬東(dong)海郡(jun),為(wei)(wei)(wei)侯國(guo)(guo)(《漢書·地(di)理(li)志》稱(cheng)南(nan)(nan)(nan)成),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)陽(yang)共王(wang)之(zhi)子(zi)(zi)劉貞被封為(wei)(wei)(wei)南(nan)(nan)(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)侯,王(wang)莽時(shi)(shi)(shi)位絕。東(dong)漢置南(nan)(nan)(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)縣(xian),至北齊(qi)(qi)(qi)時(shi)(shi)(shi)并(bing)入南(nan)(nan)(nan)武陽(yang)縣(xian)。南(nan)(nan)(nan)武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)從東(dong)周(zhou)(zhou)到(dao)東(dong)漢,有(you)著(zhu)500余年(nian)的(de)(de)輝煌(huang)。
南武(wu)城(cheng)依山傍水,地(di)處要沖(chong),自(zi)古就(jiu)是(shi)兵家(jia)必(bi)爭(zheng)(zheng)之地(di)。據《左傳》載,公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)565年(nian)(nian)(魯(lu)襄公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)八(ba)年(nian)(nian)),吳國進攻(gong)魯(lu)國,就(jiu)是(shi)先占(zhan)(zhan)南武(wu)城(cheng),然后揮師直(zhi)抵泗水,威逼魯(lu)都(dou)曲阜(fu)。公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)519年(nian)(nian)(魯(lu)昭(zhao)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)二(er)十三年(nian)(nian)),“邾人(ren)城(cheng)翼還,將自(zi)離姑,武(wu)城(cheng)人(ren)塞其前(qian)。”駐武(wu)城(cheng)的(de)魯(lu)兵將邾人(ren)全部(bu)俘獲。公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)487年(nian)(nian)(魯(lu)哀公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)八(ba)年(nian)(nian)),“吳伐我(wo),道險,從武(wu)城(cheng)。”西(xi)漢(han)瑯琊人(ren)樊崇率赤眉(mei)軍占(zhan)(zhan)領南武(wu)城(cheng),并以南武(wu)城(cheng)為依托(tuo)與官(guan)兵周(zhou)旋。明(ming)末清(qing)初的(de)農民起義領袖(xiu)王(wang)肖武(wu)占(zhan)(zhan)領南武(wu)城(cheng)自(zi)稱“九山王(wang)”,在(zai)此堅持斗爭(zheng)(zheng)達十數年(nian)(nian)之久。
南(nan)武城自(zi)古山川形勝,鐘靈毓秀,人才(cai)輩出,文武兼備。該地(di)是春秋(qiu)戰(zhan)國時(shi)期儒家(jia)一(yi)代傳人“宗圣(sheng)”曾參和孔(kong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)另(ling)一(yi)高(gao)足澹(dan)臺滅明的(de)故里。孔(kong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)的(de)得意門生——子(zi)(zi)(zi)游(言偃(yan),字子(zi)(zi)(zi)游)曾任武城宰。據(ju)《論(lun)語(yu)·陽貨篇》載,一(yi)次孔(kong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)到南(nan)武城,聽到彈琴唱歌(ge)之(zhi)生不絕于耳,看到一(yi)片(pian)繁榮景象,于是對子(zi)(zi)(zi)游開玩笑說(shuo):“割(ge)雞(ji)焉(yan)用(yong)牛刀。”子(zi)(zi)(zi)游認真地(di)說(shuo):“昔者(zhe)偃(yan)也聞諸(zhu)夫子(zi)(zi)(zi)曰:‘君子(zi)(zi)(zi)學(xue)道則愛人,小(xiao)人學(xue)道則易使也。’”孔(kong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)忙說(shuo):“二(er)三子(zi)(zi)(zi)!偃(yan)之(zhi)言是也。前(qian)言戲之(zhi)耳。”可(ke)見,南(nan)武城地(di)區的(de)文教事業已相當普及,教育已在平民中展(zhan)開。
膾炙人口的“曾(ceng)子殺人”、“曾(ceng)子殺豬”、“慈母投(tou)梭”、“斬蛟(jiao)投(tou)壁”等故事被(bei)世代傳頌,在國內(nei)外有廣泛的影(ying)響。
西(xi)晉(jin)著名的(de)政治家、軍事家羊(yang)祜和東晉(jin)著名書法家羊(yang)欣的(de)故里都是南(nan)武城,官修《晉(jin)書》對此有(you)(you)載(zai)。在南(nan)武城故城遺(yi)址東邊有(you)(you)曾(ceng)點墓(mu)和澹(dan)臺(tai)滅(mie)明墓(mu),昭示著該地(di)歷史(shi)的(de)悠久。
清(qing)代文人楊儀廷在《詠懷古跡》組詩(shi)中(zhong)談南武城故城遺址時(shi)說:“當年此地(di)起弦歌(ge),以(yi)武名城意若(ruo)何?百里巖疆資保障,四周山勢逼嵯峨。斬蛟奮(fen)起畸人劍(jian),投杼偏停慈母梭。賴(lai)有(you)勾吳賢邑宰,兩言學道總無(wu)頗(po)。”(清(qing)光(guang)緒版《費縣志》卷(juan)十三第二十五頁)