楚國的(de)都城已(yi)(yi)被晉(jin)(jin)國的(de)兵(bing)馬圍困三(san)年。晉(jin)(jin)國出(chu)兵(bing)伐楚,是想得(de)到楚國的(de)鎮國之寶:泰(tai)阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)。世(shi)人都說,泰(tai)阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)是歐(ou)冶子(zi)和干將(jiang)兩(liang)大劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)師(shi)聯手所(suo)鑄(zhu)。但(dan)是兩(liang)位大師(shi)卻不(bu)這樣認為(wei),他們說泰(tai)阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)是一(yi)把諸侯威道之劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)早(zao)已(yi)(yi)存(cun)(cun)在(zai),只是無形(xing)、無跡,但(dan)是劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)氣(qi)早(zao)已(yi)(yi)存(cun)(cun)于天(tian)地之間,只等待時機(ji)凝聚起來,天(tian)時、地利、人和三(san)道歸(gui)一(yi),此劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)即成。晉(jin)(jin)國當(dang)(dang)時最為(wei)強大,晉(jin)(jin)君當(dang)(dang)然(ran)認為(wei)自己最有資(zi)格得(de)到這把寶劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),但(dan)是事(shi)與愿違,此劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)卻在(zai)弱小的(de)楚國鑄(zhu)成,出(chu)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)之時,劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)身果然(ran)天(tian)然(ran)鐫(juan)刻篆體“泰(tai)阿(a)”二字,可見歐(ou)冶子(zi)、干將(jiang)所(suo)言(yan)不(bu)虛。晉(jin)(jin)君當(dang)(dang)然(ran)咽不(bu)下這口氣(qi),于是向楚王索劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian),楚王拒絕,于是晉(jin)(jin)君出(chu)兵(bing)伐楚,欲以索劍(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)(jian)為(wei)名借機(ji)滅掉楚國。兵(bing)力懸殊(shu),楚國大部分(fen)城池很快陷落并且(qie)都城也被團團圍住,一(yi)困三(san)年。城里糧草告罄,兵(bing)革無存(cun)(cun),危在(zai)旦夕。
這(zhe)一(yi)(yi)天(tian)(tian),晉(jin)國(guo)派來(lai)使者發出最后通牒:如(ru)(ru)再(zai)不交劍(jian)(jian)(jian),明天(tian)(tian)將攻陷此(ci)(ci)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),到時(shi)玉石(shi)俱焚!楚(chu)王不屈,吩咐左右明天(tian)(tian)自(zi)己(ji)(ji)(ji)要親上(shang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)頭殺(sha)敵(di),如(ru)(ru)果城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)破,自(zi)己(ji)(ji)(ji)將用此(ci)(ci)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)自(zi)刎(wen),然后左右要拾得此(ci)(ci)劍(jian)(jian)(jian),騎(qi)快馬奔到太湖(hu),將此(ci)(ci)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)沉入湖(hu)底,讓泰阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)永留楚(chu)國(guo)。第二天(tian)(tian)拂曉,楚(chu)王登上(shang)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)頭,只見(jian)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)外晉(jin)國(guo)兵(bing)馬遮(zhe)(zhe)天(tian)(tian)蔽(bi)日,自(zi)己(ji)(ji)(ji)的都(dou)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)宛如(ru)(ru)汪洋之中的一(yi)(yi)葉扁舟,隨時(shi)有傾滅危險。晉(jin)國(guo)兵(bing)馬開始攻城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),吶喊聲(sheng)如(ru)(ru)同山(shan)呼海(hai)嘯,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)破在即。楚(chu)王雙手捧劍(jian)(jian)(jian),長嘆一(yi)(yi)聲(sheng):泰阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)(jian),泰阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)(jian),我今天(tian)(tian)將用自(zi)己(ji)(ji)(ji)的鮮血來(lai)祭你(ni)!于是,拔劍(jian)(jian)(jian)出鞘,引(yin)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)直指(zhi)敵(di)軍。匪夷所思的奇跡出現(xian),只見(jian)一(yi)(yi)團(tuan)磅礴劍(jian)(jian)(jian)氣(qi)激射而(er)出,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)外霎時(shi)飛(fei)沙走石(shi),遮(zhe)(zhe)天(tian)(tian)蔽(bi)日,似有猛獸咆哮其中,晉(jin)國(guo)兵(bing)馬大亂,片刻之后,旌旗仆地,流血千里,全軍覆(fu)沒。這(zhe)件事情過(guo)后,楚(chu)王召(zhao)來(lai)國(guo)中智者風胡子問道:泰阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)為何會有如(ru)(ru)此(ci)(ci)之威?
風(feng)胡子說:泰(tai)阿劍是(shi)一把(ba)威(wei)(wei)道(dao)之劍,而內心之威(wei)(wei)才是(shi)真(zhen)威(wei)(wei),大王(wang)身處逆(ni)境威(wei)(wei)武不屈,正是(shi)內心之威(wei)(wei)的(de)卓越表現(xian)。正是(shi)大王(wang)的(de)內心之威(wei)(wei),激發(fa)出泰(tai)阿劍的(de)劍氣之威(wei)(wei)!見于《越絕書》。
《史記·李斯列傳(chuan)》記載“今陛下致(zhi)昆山(shan)之(zhi)玉(yu),有(you)隨(sui)和(he)之(zhi)寶,垂明月之(zhi)珠,服太(tai)阿(a)之(zhi)劍。”。這句話(hua)的意思是說(shuo)秦始皇得到的昆山(shan)寶玉(yu)有(you)瑞光,堪比明月,可至太(tai)阿(a)。
秦始(shi)皇曾配寶劍。死(si)后(hou)大(da)量陪葬。很多(duo)寶貝都(dou)跟(gen)著(zhu)埋(mai)入始(shi)皇地宮(gong),后(hou)來(lai)(lai)楚漢(han)相(xiang)爭,楚霸(ba)王項羽(yu)(yu)搶劫阿房宮(gong),把里面很多(duo)的寶貝都(dou)帶出來(lai)(lai)。相(xiang)傳(chuan),項羽(yu)(yu)用(yong)三(san)(san)十(shi)萬人,拉(la)了三(san)(san)天(tian)都(dou)沒把阿房宮(gong)內的寶貝拉(la)完(wan),這一(yi)點,在(zai)酈道元的《水(shui)經注》的渭水(shui)段也有記載(zai),項羽(yu)(yu)后(hou)來(lai)(lai)火燒阿房宮(gong)。
有成語(yu)“泰阿倒(dao)持”,意(yi)為“倒(dao)拿著劍,把劍柄給(gei)別人。把大權交(jiao)給(gei)別人,自己反受其害。”所(suo)以(yi),泰阿劍又被(bei)命名為太阿劍。