楚(chu)(chu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)的都(dou)城(cheng)已被晉(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)的兵(bing)馬圍困三年。晉(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)出(chu)兵(bing)伐楚(chu)(chu),是(shi)(shi)(shi)想得到楚(chu)(chu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)的鎮國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)之寶(bao):泰阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)。世人都(dou)說(shuo),泰阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)是(shi)(shi)(shi)歐冶子和(he)干(gan)(gan)將兩大(da)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)師(shi)聯手所(suo)鑄。但(dan)是(shi)(shi)(shi)兩位(wei)大(da)師(shi)卻不(bu)這(zhe)樣認為(wei)(wei),他們說(shuo)泰阿(a)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)是(shi)(shi)(shi)一(yi)把(ba)諸侯威道之劍(jian)(jian)(jian)早已存(cun)在,只(zhi)是(shi)(shi)(shi)無(wu)形、無(wu)跡(ji),但(dan)是(shi)(shi)(shi)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)氣早已存(cun)于天(tian)地(di)之間,只(zhi)等待時(shi)機(ji)(ji)凝(ning)聚起來,天(tian)時(shi)、地(di)利、人和(he)三道歸(gui)一(yi),此劍(jian)(jian)(jian)即成。晉(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)當時(shi)最為(wei)(wei)強(qiang)大(da),晉(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)君(jun)當然(ran)(ran)認為(wei)(wei)自己(ji)最有資(zi)格得到這(zhe)把(ba)寶(bao)劍(jian)(jian)(jian),但(dan)是(shi)(shi)(shi)事與愿違(wei),此劍(jian)(jian)(jian)卻在弱小的楚(chu)(chu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)鑄成,出(chu)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)之時(shi),劍(jian)(jian)(jian)身果(guo)然(ran)(ran)天(tian)然(ran)(ran)鐫刻篆體“泰阿(a)”二字,可(ke)見歐冶子、干(gan)(gan)將所(suo)言(yan)不(bu)虛。晉(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)君(jun)當然(ran)(ran)咽不(bu)下這(zhe)口氣,于是(shi)(shi)(shi)向楚(chu)(chu)王(wang)索劍(jian)(jian)(jian),楚(chu)(chu)王(wang)拒絕,于是(shi)(shi)(shi)晉(jin)(jin)(jin)(jin)君(jun)出(chu)兵(bing)伐楚(chu)(chu),欲以索劍(jian)(jian)(jian)為(wei)(wei)名借機(ji)(ji)滅掉楚(chu)(chu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)。兵(bing)力(li)懸殊,楚(chu)(chu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)大(da)部分城(cheng)池(chi)很快陷落并且都(dou)城(cheng)也被團(tuan)團(tuan)圍住,一(yi)困三年。城(cheng)里(li)糧(liang)草告罄(qing),兵(bing)革無(wu)存(cun),危(wei)在旦夕。
這一(yi)天(tian)(tian),晉(jin)國(guo)派(pai)來(lai)使者(zhe)發出(chu)最(zui)后通(tong)牒:如(ru)(ru)再(zai)不交劍,明天(tian)(tian)將(jiang)攻陷此城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),到時(shi)(shi)玉石(shi)俱(ju)焚!楚(chu)王不屈(qu),吩咐左(zuo)右(you)明天(tian)(tian)自(zi)己(ji)要親上城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)頭(tou)殺敵,如(ru)(ru)果城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)破,自(zi)己(ji)將(jiang)用(yong)此劍自(zi)刎,然后左(zuo)右(you)要拾(shi)得此劍,騎快馬奔到太湖,將(jiang)此劍沉入湖底,讓泰阿劍永留(liu)楚(chu)國(guo)。第二天(tian)(tian)拂曉,楚(chu)王登(deng)上城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)頭(tou),只見城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)外晉(jin)國(guo)兵(bing)馬遮(zhe)天(tian)(tian)蔽(bi)日(ri),自(zi)己(ji)的(de)(de)(de)都城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)宛如(ru)(ru)汪洋之(zhi)中的(de)(de)(de)一(yi)葉扁(bian)舟(zhou),隨時(shi)(shi)有傾滅危險。晉(jin)國(guo)兵(bing)馬開始攻城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),吶(na)喊聲如(ru)(ru)同山呼海嘯(xiao),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)破在即(ji)。楚(chu)王雙手捧劍,長(chang)嘆一(yi)聲:泰阿劍,泰阿劍,我今天(tian)(tian)將(jiang)用(yong)自(zi)己(ji)的(de)(de)(de)鮮血(xue)來(lai)祭(ji)你!于是,拔劍出(chu)鞘,引劍直(zhi)指敵軍。匪夷所思的(de)(de)(de)奇(qi)跡出(chu)現,只見一(yi)團磅礴劍氣激射而出(chu),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)外霎時(shi)(shi)飛沙(sha)走石(shi),遮(zhe)天(tian)(tian)蔽(bi)日(ri),似有猛(meng)獸咆哮其中,晉(jin)國(guo)兵(bing)馬大(da)亂(luan),片刻(ke)之(zhi)后,旌(jing)旗仆(pu)地,流血(xue)千里,全(quan)軍覆沒。這件事情過后,楚(chu)王召來(lai)國(guo)中智者(zhe)風胡子(zi)問道(dao):泰阿劍為何會有如(ru)(ru)此之(zhi)威?
風胡子說(shuo):泰(tai)阿劍(jian)(jian)是一把威(wei)道之(zhi)(zhi)劍(jian)(jian),而內心(xin)(xin)之(zhi)(zhi)威(wei)才是真威(wei),大(da)王(wang)身處逆境威(wei)武(wu)不屈,正是內心(xin)(xin)之(zhi)(zhi)威(wei)的(de)卓越表(biao)現。正是大(da)王(wang)的(de)內心(xin)(xin)之(zhi)(zhi)威(wei),激發出(chu)泰(tai)阿劍(jian)(jian)的(de)劍(jian)(jian)氣之(zhi)(zhi)威(wei)!見于《越絕(jue)書》。
《史記(ji)·李斯列(lie)傳(chuan)》記(ji)載“今(jin)陛下(xia)致昆山(shan)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)玉(yu),有隨和之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)寶,垂明月(yue)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)珠,服(fu)太(tai)阿(a)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)劍。”。這句(ju)話的意思是(shi)說秦始皇得到的昆山(shan)寶玉(yu)有瑞光,堪比(bi)明月(yue),可至太(tai)阿(a)。
秦(qin)始皇(huang)曾配(pei)寶劍。死(si)后(hou)(hou)大量陪葬。很多寶貝(bei)都(dou)跟著埋入始皇(huang)地(di)宮(gong),后(hou)(hou)來(lai)楚(chu)(chu)漢相爭(zheng),楚(chu)(chu)霸(ba)王項(xiang)(xiang)羽搶劫(jie)阿房宮(gong),把里(li)面很多的(de)寶貝(bei)都(dou)帶出來(lai)。相傳,項(xiang)(xiang)羽用三十萬人(ren),拉(la)了三天都(dou)沒把阿房宮(gong)內的(de)寶貝(bei)拉(la)完,這一(yi)點(dian),在酈道元的(de)《水(shui)經注》的(de)渭水(shui)段也有(you)記載,項(xiang)(xiang)羽后(hou)(hou)來(lai)火燒阿房宮(gong)。
有(you)成語“泰(tai)(tai)阿倒(dao)持(chi)”,意為(wei)“倒(dao)拿著劍(jian),把(ba)劍(jian)柄給別人。把(ba)大權交(jiao)給別人,自己反受其(qi)害。”所以,泰(tai)(tai)阿劍(jian)又被(bei)命名為(wei)太阿劍(jian)。