楚(chu)(chu)(chu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)的都城已被晉(jin)國(guo)(guo)(guo)的兵馬圍(wei)困(kun)三年(nian)。晉(jin)國(guo)(guo)(guo)出兵伐楚(chu)(chu)(chu),是想得到楚(chu)(chu)(chu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)的鎮國(guo)(guo)(guo)之寶(bao):泰(tai)(tai)阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)。世人都說,泰(tai)(tai)阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)是歐冶子和干將兩大劍(jian)(jian)師聯手所(suo)鑄(zhu)。但(dan)(dan)是兩位大師卻不(bu)這(zhe)樣認(ren)為(wei)(wei),他們說泰(tai)(tai)阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)是一(yi)把(ba)諸(zhu)侯(hou)威道之劍(jian)(jian)早已存在,只(zhi)是無(wu)形、無(wu)跡,但(dan)(dan)是劍(jian)(jian)氣(qi)早已存于天(tian)地之間,只(zhi)等待(dai)時機凝(ning)聚起來(lai),天(tian)時、地利、人和三道歸一(yi),此劍(jian)(jian)即成。晉(jin)國(guo)(guo)(guo)當(dang)(dang)時最為(wei)(wei)強大,晉(jin)君當(dang)(dang)然認(ren)為(wei)(wei)自己最有資格得到這(zhe)把(ba)寶(bao)劍(jian)(jian),但(dan)(dan)是事與愿違(wei),此劍(jian)(jian)卻在弱小的楚(chu)(chu)(chu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)鑄(zhu)成,出劍(jian)(jian)之時,劍(jian)(jian)身果(guo)然天(tian)然鐫刻篆體“泰(tai)(tai)阿(a)”二字,可見歐冶子、干將所(suo)言(yan)不(bu)虛。晉(jin)君當(dang)(dang)然咽(yan)不(bu)下這(zhe)口氣(qi),于是向楚(chu)(chu)(chu)王索(suo)劍(jian)(jian),楚(chu)(chu)(chu)王拒絕,于是晉(jin)君出兵伐楚(chu)(chu)(chu),欲以索(suo)劍(jian)(jian)為(wei)(wei)名借(jie)機滅掉(diao)楚(chu)(chu)(chu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)。兵力懸殊,楚(chu)(chu)(chu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)大部分城池很快陷落(luo)并(bing)且都城也被團團圍(wei)住,一(yi)困(kun)三年(nian)。城里(li)糧草告(gao)罄,兵革無(wu)存,危在旦夕。
這一(yi)天(tian),晉(jin)(jin)國(guo)派來(lai)使者發出(chu)最(zui)后通牒(die):如再不(bu)(bu)交劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),明天(tian)將攻陷此城(cheng)(cheng),到時(shi)玉(yu)石俱(ju)焚!楚王(wang)不(bu)(bu)屈,吩咐左(zuo)右(you)(you)明天(tian)自(zi)(zi)(zi)己(ji)要(yao)親(qin)上(shang)城(cheng)(cheng)頭殺(sha)敵(di),如果城(cheng)(cheng)破,自(zi)(zi)(zi)己(ji)將用此劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)自(zi)(zi)(zi)刎(wen),然后左(zuo)右(you)(you)要(yao)拾(shi)得此劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),騎快(kuai)馬(ma)奔到太(tai)湖,將此劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)沉(chen)入(ru)湖底,讓泰阿(a)(a)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)永留楚國(guo)。第二天(tian)拂曉,楚王(wang)登上(shang)城(cheng)(cheng)頭,只見城(cheng)(cheng)外(wai)晉(jin)(jin)國(guo)兵馬(ma)遮(zhe)天(tian)蔽日,自(zi)(zi)(zi)己(ji)的(de)都城(cheng)(cheng)宛如汪洋之(zhi)中的(de)一(yi)葉扁(bian)舟,隨(sui)時(shi)有傾滅危險。晉(jin)(jin)國(guo)兵馬(ma)開始(shi)攻城(cheng)(cheng),吶喊聲如同(tong)山呼(hu)海嘯,城(cheng)(cheng)破在(zai)即。楚王(wang)雙手(shou)捧(peng)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),長嘆(tan)一(yi)聲:泰阿(a)(a)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),泰阿(a)(a)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),我今(jin)天(tian)將用自(zi)(zi)(zi)己(ji)的(de)鮮(xian)血(xue)來(lai)祭你!于是,拔劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)出(chu)鞘,引劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)直指敵(di)軍(jun)。匪夷所思的(de)奇(qi)跡出(chu)現,只見一(yi)團(tuan)磅礴劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)氣激射(she)而出(chu),城(cheng)(cheng)外(wai)霎(sha)時(shi)飛沙走石,遮(zhe)天(tian)蔽日,似有猛獸咆哮其中,晉(jin)(jin)國(guo)兵馬(ma)大亂,片刻之(zhi)后,旌旗仆地(di),流血(xue)千里,全軍(jun)覆(fu)沒(mei)。這件事情過后,楚王(wang)召來(lai)國(guo)中智(zhi)者風胡子(zi)問道:泰阿(a)(a)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)為何會(hui)有如此之(zhi)威?
風胡子說:泰(tai)阿劍(jian)是一把威道(dao)之(zhi)劍(jian),而內(nei)(nei)心(xin)之(zhi)威才(cai)是真威,大王(wang)身處(chu)逆境威武不屈,正是內(nei)(nei)心(xin)之(zhi)威的卓(zhuo)越表(biao)現。正是大王(wang)的內(nei)(nei)心(xin)之(zhi)威,激發出泰(tai)阿劍(jian)的劍(jian)氣之(zhi)威!見于(yu)《越絕書》。
《史記·李斯列傳(chuan)》記載“今陛下致昆山(shan)之玉(yu),有隨(sui)和之寶,垂(chui)明月之珠(zhu),服太(tai)阿(a)之劍。”。這(zhe)句話的意思是(shi)說(shuo)秦始皇得到的昆山(shan)寶玉(yu)有瑞光(guang),堪比(bi)明月,可(ke)至太(tai)阿(a)。
秦始(shi)皇曾配寶(bao)(bao)劍。死后大(da)量陪葬。很多(duo)寶(bao)(bao)貝(bei)都(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(a)(a)房(fang)(fang)宮(gong)(gong),把里面很多(duo)的寶(bao)(bao)貝(bei)都(dou)帶出(chu)來(lai)。相傳,項羽用三十萬(wan)人,拉了三天都(dou)沒把阿(a)(a)房(fang)(fang)宮(gong)(gong)內(nei)的寶(bao)(bao)貝(bei)拉完,這一點,在酈道元的《水經注》的渭水段也(ye)有記載,項羽后來(lai)火(huo)燒(shao)阿(a)(a)房(fang)(fang)宮(gong)(gong)。
有成語(yu)“泰阿倒持”,意為(wei)“倒拿(na)著劍,把劍柄給別人。把大權(quan)交給別人,自己反受(shou)其害(hai)。”所以(yi),泰阿劍又被命名為(wei)太阿劍。