楚(chu)國(guo)的都城已(yi)(yi)被晉(jin)(jin)國(guo)的兵(bing)(bing)(bing)馬圍(wei)(wei)困三(san)(san)年(nian)。晉(jin)(jin)國(guo)出(chu)兵(bing)(bing)(bing)伐楚(chu),是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)想得(de)(de)到(dao)楚(chu)國(guo)的鎮國(guo)之(zhi)(zhi)寶(bao):泰阿劍(jian)(jian)(jian)。世人都說(shuo),泰阿劍(jian)(jian)(jian)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)歐冶(ye)子和干將兩(liang)大(da)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)師聯手所鑄。但是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)兩(liang)位大(da)師卻不(bu)(bu)這樣認(ren)為(wei)(wei),他們(men)說(shuo)泰阿劍(jian)(jian)(jian)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)一(yi)把諸侯威道(dao)之(zhi)(zhi)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)早已(yi)(yi)存在,只是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)無形、無跡(ji),但是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)氣早已(yi)(yi)存于天地之(zhi)(zhi)間(jian),只等待時(shi)機(ji)凝聚起來,天時(shi)、地利(li)、人和三(san)(san)道(dao)歸(gui)一(yi),此(ci)(ci)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)即成。晉(jin)(jin)國(guo)當(dang)時(shi)最為(wei)(wei)強(qiang)大(da),晉(jin)(jin)君當(dang)然認(ren)為(wei)(wei)自己最有(you)資格得(de)(de)到(dao)這把寶(bao)劍(jian)(jian)(jian),但是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)事(shi)與愿違,此(ci)(ci)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)卻在弱小的楚(chu)國(guo)鑄成,出(chu)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)之(zhi)(zhi)時(shi),劍(jian)(jian)(jian)身果(guo)然天然鐫(juan)刻篆體“泰阿”二字,可見歐冶(ye)子、干將所言不(bu)(bu)虛。晉(jin)(jin)君當(dang)然咽不(bu)(bu)下這口氣,于是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)向楚(chu)王(wang)索(suo)劍(jian)(jian)(jian),楚(chu)王(wang)拒(ju)絕,于是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)晉(jin)(jin)君出(chu)兵(bing)(bing)(bing)伐楚(chu),欲以索(suo)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)為(wei)(wei)名借機(ji)滅(mie)掉(diao)楚(chu)國(guo)。兵(bing)(bing)(bing)力懸殊,楚(chu)國(guo)大(da)部分城池很快(kuai)陷落(luo)并且都城也被團(tuan)團(tuan)圍(wei)(wei)住,一(yi)困三(san)(san)年(nian)。城里糧草告罄,兵(bing)(bing)(bing)革無存,危在旦夕。
這(zhe)一(yi)天(tian)(tian),晉(jin)國派來(lai)使者(zhe)發出(chu)最后(hou)(hou)通牒:如再不交(jiao)劍(jian)(jian),明(ming)(ming)天(tian)(tian)將(jiang)攻陷此(ci)城(cheng),到(dao)時(shi)玉(yu)石(shi)俱焚!楚(chu)王不屈(qu),吩咐左右明(ming)(ming)天(tian)(tian)自(zi)己(ji)要親上城(cheng)頭殺敵(di),如果城(cheng)破(po),自(zi)己(ji)將(jiang)用此(ci)劍(jian)(jian)自(zi)刎(wen),然后(hou)(hou)左右要拾(shi)得此(ci)劍(jian)(jian),騎快馬(ma)奔(ben)到(dao)太湖(hu),將(jiang)此(ci)劍(jian)(jian)沉入湖(hu)底,讓泰(tai)(tai)阿劍(jian)(jian)永留楚(chu)國。第二天(tian)(tian)拂(fu)曉(xiao),楚(chu)王登上城(cheng)頭,只(zhi)見(jian)城(cheng)外晉(jin)國兵(bing)馬(ma)遮天(tian)(tian)蔽日,自(zi)己(ji)的(de)都城(cheng)宛如汪洋之(zhi)中的(de)一(yi)葉扁舟,隨時(shi)有傾滅(mie)危險。晉(jin)國兵(bing)馬(ma)開始(shi)攻城(cheng),吶喊聲如同山呼(hu)海(hai)嘯,城(cheng)破(po)在即(ji)。楚(chu)王雙手捧(peng)劍(jian)(jian),長嘆一(yi)聲:泰(tai)(tai)阿劍(jian)(jian),泰(tai)(tai)阿劍(jian)(jian),我今天(tian)(tian)將(jiang)用自(zi)己(ji)的(de)鮮(xian)血(xue)來(lai)祭你!于是(shi),拔劍(jian)(jian)出(chu)鞘,引劍(jian)(jian)直(zhi)指敵(di)軍。匪夷(yi)所思的(de)奇跡出(chu)現,只(zhi)見(jian)一(yi)團磅礴劍(jian)(jian)氣激射而出(chu),城(cheng)外霎時(shi)飛沙走石(shi),遮天(tian)(tian)蔽日,似有猛獸(shou)咆哮其中,晉(jin)國兵(bing)馬(ma)大亂,片(pian)刻之(zhi)后(hou)(hou),旌旗仆地,流血(xue)千里,全(quan)軍覆沒。這(zhe)件事情過后(hou)(hou),楚(chu)王召(zhao)來(lai)國中智者(zhe)風胡子問(wen)道(dao):泰(tai)(tai)阿劍(jian)(jian)為何會(hui)有如此(ci)之(zhi)威?
風(feng)胡子說:泰阿(a)劍(jian)是(shi)一把威(wei)道之(zhi)(zhi)劍(jian),而內心(xin)之(zhi)(zhi)威(wei)才是(shi)真(zhen)威(wei),大(da)王身處逆境(jing)威(wei)武不屈,正(zheng)是(shi)內心(xin)之(zhi)(zhi)威(wei)的(de)卓越表現(xian)。正(zheng)是(shi)大(da)王的(de)內心(xin)之(zhi)(zhi)威(wei),激發出泰阿(a)劍(jian)的(de)劍(jian)氣之(zhi)(zhi)威(wei)!見于《越絕書(shu)》。
《史記·李斯(si)列傳》記載“今陛下(xia)致昆山之玉,有(you)隨和之寶,垂(chui)明月之珠,服太阿之劍。”。這句話的意思是說秦始皇得到的昆山寶玉有(you)瑞光,堪比明月,可至太阿。
秦始(shi)皇曾配寶(bao)(bao)(bao)劍。死后大量陪葬。很多寶(bao)(bao)(bao)貝(bei)都(dou)(dou)跟著埋(mai)入始(shi)皇地宮(gong)(gong),后來(lai)楚漢相爭,楚霸王項羽搶劫阿房(fang)宮(gong)(gong),把里(li)面很多的(de)寶(bao)(bao)(bao)貝(bei)都(dou)(dou)帶出來(lai)。相傳(chuan),項羽用三十萬人(ren),拉了三天都(dou)(dou)沒把阿房(fang)宮(gong)(gong)內的(de)寶(bao)(bao)(bao)貝(bei)拉完,這一點(dian),在酈道(dao)元的(de)《水經注》的(de)渭(wei)水段也(ye)有記載,項羽后來(lai)火燒阿房(fang)宮(gong)(gong)。
有(you)成語“泰(tai)阿(a)倒(dao)持”,意為(wei)“倒(dao)拿著(zhu)劍(jian)(jian),把劍(jian)(jian)柄給(gei)別人(ren)。把大權交給(gei)別人(ren),自(zi)己(ji)反受其(qi)害(hai)。”所以(yi),泰(tai)阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)又被命名(ming)為(wei)太阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)。