歷史(shi)上的(de)(de)(de)一(yi)些(xie)(xie)典籍(ji),對南(nan)武城(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)稱(cheng)謂(wei)有四(si):南(nan)武城(cheng)、武城(cheng)、南(nan)城(cheng)、南(nan)成。不(bu)同史(shi)籍(ji)對該城(cheng)的(de)(de)(de)稱(cheng)謂(wei)不(bu)同,有些(xie)(xie)書籍(ji)在不(bu)同卷次里也有不(bu)同的(de)(de)(de)說法。根據古漢語的(de)(de)(de)行(xing)文規則(ze)可知(zhi),武城(cheng)、南(nan)城(cheng)、南(nan)成均為南(nan)武城(cheng)之省(sheng)筆。
根據(ju)(ju)史(shi)(shi)料考證,南(nan)武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)建城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)時(shi)(shi)間(jian)在東(dong)(dong)(dong)周(zhou)中期的(de)(de)公元前554年(nian)(魯(lu)襄公十(shi)九(jiu)(jiu)年(nian))。此時(shi)(shi),已處于春(chun)秋末期,諸侯割據(ju)(ju)造成了(le)周(zhou)王(wang)(wang)朝(chao)內(nei)部日趨動蕩(dang)不(bu)安,魯(lu)襄公為抵御齊(qi)國(guo)(guo)而在這一戰略要地筑城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。據(ju)(ju)編年(nian)體史(shi)(shi)書(shu)《竹書(shu)紀(ji)年(nian)》載,公元前427年(nian)(周(zhou)考王(wang)(wang)十(shi)四(si)年(nian)),作(zuo)為魯(lu)國(guo)(guo)“三桓”之一的(de)(de)季(ji)孫后裔不(bu)甘心臣(chen)服(fu)魯(lu)國(guo)(guo)而自立費國(guo)(guo),南(nan)武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)遂為費國(guo)(guo)所并(bing)。戰國(guo)(guo)時(shi)(shi)期曾(ceng)被齊(qi)國(guo)(guo)占領,成為齊(qi)、楚(chu)(chu)兩國(guo)(guo)邊境(jing)上(shang)的(de)(de)要隘。據(ju)(ju)《史(shi)(shi)記·田(tian)敬(jing)世家》載,公元前333年(nian)(齊(qi)威王(wang)(wang)二(er)(er)十(shi)四(si)年(nian)),齊(qi)王(wang)(wang)與威王(wang)(wang)斗寶時(shi)(shi)說:“吾臣(chen)有(you)檀(tan)子(zi)者,使(shi)守南(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),則楚(chu)(chu)人不(bu)敢為寇,東(dong)(dong)(dong)取(qu)泗(si)上(shang)十(shi)二(er)(er)諸侯皆來朝(chao)。”將南(nan)武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)守將檀(tan)子(zi)喻為國(guo)(guo)寶。公元前256年(nian)(周(zhou)郝王(wang)(wang)五十(shi)九(jiu)(jiu)年(nian))南(nan)武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)隨魯(lu)國(guo)(guo)一同被楚(chu)(chu)國(guo)(guo)吞并(bing)。南(nan)武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),在秦(qin)代屬(shu)瑯琊郡(jun)。西漢(han)屬(shu)東(dong)(dong)(dong)海郡(jun),為侯國(guo)(guo)(《漢(han)書(shu)·地理志》稱南(nan)成),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)陽(yang)共王(wang)(wang)之子(zi)劉(liu)貞被封為南(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)侯,王(wang)(wang)莽時(shi)(shi)位(wei)絕。東(dong)(dong)(dong)漢(han)置南(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)縣(xian),至(zhi)北(bei)齊(qi)時(shi)(shi)并(bing)入(ru)南(nan)武陽(yang)縣(xian)。南(nan)武城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)從東(dong)(dong)(dong)周(zhou)到(dao)東(dong)(dong)(dong)漢(han),有(you)著500余年(nian)的(de)(de)輝煌(huang)。
南(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)依(yi)山(shan)(shan)傍(bang)水,地(di)處要沖(chong),自古就是兵家必爭(zheng)之(zhi)地(di)。據《左傳》載,公(gong)(gong)(gong)元(yuan)前565年(魯(lu)(lu)襄公(gong)(gong)(gong)八年),吳(wu)國進攻(gong)魯(lu)(lu)國,就是先占(zhan)(zhan)南(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng),然(ran)后揮師直抵(di)泗水,威逼(bi)魯(lu)(lu)都曲阜。公(gong)(gong)(gong)元(yuan)前519年(魯(lu)(lu)昭公(gong)(gong)(gong)二十(shi)三年),“邾人(ren)城(cheng)翼還,將(jiang)自離姑(gu),武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)人(ren)塞其(qi)前。”駐武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)的魯(lu)(lu)兵將(jiang)邾人(ren)全部俘獲(huo)。公(gong)(gong)(gong)元(yuan)前487年(魯(lu)(lu)哀公(gong)(gong)(gong)八年),“吳(wu)伐我,道險,從(cong)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)。”西(xi)漢瑯琊人(ren)樊崇率赤眉(mei)軍占(zhan)(zhan)領南(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng),并以南(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)為依(yi)托與官兵周旋。明末清初的農民起義領袖王(wang)(wang)肖武(wu)(wu)占(zhan)(zhan)領南(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)自稱“九(jiu)山(shan)(shan)王(wang)(wang)”,在此堅(jian)持(chi)斗爭(zheng)達十(shi)數年之(zhi)久。
南武城自古山川(chuan)形(xing)勝(sheng),鐘靈毓秀,人才輩出(chu),文(wen)武兼備。該地是(shi)春(chun)秋戰國(guo)時期(qi)儒家一(yi)代傳人“宗圣”曾(ceng)(ceng)參和(he)孔(kong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)另一(yi)高足(zu)澹臺滅明的故里。孔(kong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)的得(de)意門(men)生(sheng)——子(zi)(zi)(zi)游(you)(言(yan)偃,字子(zi)(zi)(zi)游(you))曾(ceng)(ceng)任武城宰。據《論(lun)語·陽貨篇》載,一(yi)次孔(kong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)到(dao)南武城,聽(ting)到(dao)彈琴唱(chang)歌之生(sheng)不(bu)絕(jue)于(yu)耳,看到(dao)一(yi)片繁榮景象,于(yu)是(shi)對子(zi)(zi)(zi)游(you)開玩笑說:“割雞焉用牛刀。”子(zi)(zi)(zi)游(you)認真地說:“昔(xi)者偃也聞諸夫子(zi)(zi)(zi)曰(yue):‘君子(zi)(zi)(zi)學道(dao)則愛(ai)人,小人學道(dao)則易使也。’”孔(kong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)忙說:“二三子(zi)(zi)(zi)!偃之言(yan)是(shi)也。前言(yan)戲之耳。”可見(jian),南武城地區的文(wen)教事業已相當(dang)普及(ji),教育已在平民中展開。
膾炙人口的(de)(de)“曾(ceng)子殺(sha)人”、“曾(ceng)子殺(sha)豬(zhu)”、“慈母投梭”、“斬(zhan)蛟投壁”等故事被世代傳頌,在國內外有廣泛(fan)的(de)(de)影響(xiang)。
西晉(jin)著(zhu)(zhu)名的政(zheng)治家、軍事(shi)家羊祜和(he)東(dong)晉(jin)著(zhu)(zhu)名書法家羊欣的故里都是南武(wu)城,官修(xiu)《晉(jin)書》對此有(you)載。在南武(wu)城故城遺(yi)址東(dong)邊(bian)有(you)曾(ceng)點墓(mu)和(he)澹臺滅明(ming)墓(mu),昭(zhao)示著(zhu)(zhu)該地歷史的悠久。
清(qing)代文人楊儀廷在(zai)《詠懷古跡》組詩中談(tan)南武城故城遺址時說:“當(dang)年此地(di)起弦歌,以武名城意(yi)若何?百里巖疆(jiang)資保障,四周山勢逼嵯(cuo)峨。斬蛟奮起畸人劍,投杼(zhu)偏停慈母梭。賴有(you)勾吳賢邑宰(zai),兩言(yan)學道總無頗。”(清(qing)光緒版《費縣志》卷十三(san)第二十五(wu)頁)