歷史(shi)上的一些典籍,對(dui)南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)武城(cheng)(cheng)的稱謂有四:南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)武城(cheng)(cheng)、武城(cheng)(cheng)、南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)、南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)成。不(bu)同史(shi)籍對(dui)該(gai)城(cheng)(cheng)的稱謂不(bu)同,有些書籍在不(bu)同卷次里也有不(bu)同的說法。根據(ju)古漢語的行(xing)文(wen)規則可知,武城(cheng)(cheng)、南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)、南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)成均為南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)武城(cheng)(cheng)之(zhi)省筆。
根據(ju)(ju)(ju)史(shi)料考證,南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)建城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)時(shi)間在東(dong)周(zhou)(zhou)中期的(de)公元(yuan)前(qian)(qian)(qian)554年(nian)(nian)(nian)(魯襄公十(shi)(shi)九年(nian)(nian)(nian))。此時(shi),已處于春(chun)秋末期,諸侯割據(ju)(ju)(ju)造(zao)成(cheng)了周(zhou)(zhou)王(wang)朝內(nei)部日趨動(dong)蕩不安,魯襄公為(wei)抵(di)御齊國(guo)而在這(zhe)一(yi)戰略(lve)要地筑(zhu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。據(ju)(ju)(ju)編年(nian)(nian)(nian)體史(shi)書(shu)《竹書(shu)紀年(nian)(nian)(nian)》載,公元(yuan)前(qian)(qian)(qian)427年(nian)(nian)(nian)(周(zhou)(zhou)考王(wang)十(shi)(shi)四年(nian)(nian)(nian)),作為(wei)魯國(guo)“三(san)桓”之一(yi)的(de)季孫后裔不甘心臣服魯國(guo)而自(zi)立費國(guo),南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)遂為(wei)費國(guo)所(suo)并(bing)。戰國(guo)時(shi)期曾被(bei)齊國(guo)占領,成(cheng)為(wei)齊、楚(chu)兩(liang)國(guo)邊境(jing)上的(de)要隘。據(ju)(ju)(ju)《史(shi)記·田敬世家》載,公元(yuan)前(qian)(qian)(qian)333年(nian)(nian)(nian)(齊威(wei)王(wang)二十(shi)(shi)四年(nian)(nian)(nian)),齊王(wang)與威(wei)王(wang)斗寶(bao)時(shi)說:“吾臣有檀子(zi)者,使守(shou)南(nan)(nan)(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),則楚(chu)人(ren)不敢(gan)為(wei)寇(kou),東(dong)取泗(si)上十(shi)(shi)二諸侯皆來朝。”將南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)守(shou)將檀子(zi)喻為(wei)國(guo)寶(bao)。公元(yuan)前(qian)(qian)(qian)256年(nian)(nian)(nian)(周(zhou)(zhou)郝王(wang)五(wu)十(shi)(shi)九年(nian)(nian)(nian))南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)隨魯國(guo)一(yi)同被(bei)楚(chu)國(guo)吞并(bing)。南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),在秦代屬瑯(lang)琊郡。西漢(han)屬東(dong)海郡,為(wei)侯國(guo)(《漢(han)書(shu)·地理志(zhi)》稱南(nan)(nan)(nan)成(cheng)),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)陽共王(wang)之子(zi)劉貞被(bei)封為(wei)南(nan)(nan)(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)侯,王(wang)莽時(shi)位絕。東(dong)漢(han)置南(nan)(nan)(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)縣(xian),至北(bei)齊時(shi)并(bing)入南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)陽縣(xian)。南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)從(cong)東(dong)周(zhou)(zhou)到東(dong)漢(han),有著(zhu)500余年(nian)(nian)(nian)的(de)輝煌。
南武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)依山傍水,地處要(yao)沖,自古就是(shi)兵家必爭之地。據《左傳》載,公元前565年(nian)(nian)(nian)(魯(lu)(lu)(lu)襄公八(ba)年(nian)(nian)(nian)),吳(wu)國(guo)(guo)進攻魯(lu)(lu)(lu)國(guo)(guo),就是(shi)先(xian)占南武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng),然后揮師(shi)直抵泗水,威(wei)逼魯(lu)(lu)(lu)都曲阜。公元前519年(nian)(nian)(nian)(魯(lu)(lu)(lu)昭(zhao)公二十(shi)三年(nian)(nian)(nian)),“邾(zhu)人城(cheng)翼還,將自離姑,武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)人塞(sai)其前。”駐武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)的魯(lu)(lu)(lu)兵將邾(zhu)人全部俘獲。公元前487年(nian)(nian)(nian)(魯(lu)(lu)(lu)哀公八(ba)年(nian)(nian)(nian)),“吳(wu)伐我,道險(xian),從武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)。”西漢瑯琊人樊崇(chong)率赤眉軍(jun)占領南武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng),并以南武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)為依托與官兵周旋。明末清(qing)初的農民起(qi)義領袖(xiu)王(wang)肖(xiao)武(wu)(wu)(wu)占領南武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)自稱“九(jiu)山王(wang)”,在此(ci)堅持(chi)斗爭達十(shi)數年(nian)(nian)(nian)之久。
南武(wu)城自古(gu)山川形勝,鐘靈(ling)毓(yu)秀,人(ren)才輩出,文(wen)武(wu)兼備(bei)。該(gai)地(di)是春秋戰國時(shi)期儒家一代傳人(ren)“宗圣”曾參和孔(kong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)另一高(gao)足(zu)澹臺滅明(ming)的(de)(de)故里。孔(kong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)的(de)(de)得意(yi)門生——子(zi)(zi)(zi)游(you)(言偃,字(zi)子(zi)(zi)(zi)游(you))曾任武(wu)城宰。據《論語·陽貨(huo)篇》載,一次孔(kong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)到(dao)南武(wu)城,聽到(dao)彈琴唱歌之生不絕于(yu)耳,看到(dao)一片繁(fan)榮景象,于(yu)是對(dui)子(zi)(zi)(zi)游(you)開玩笑(xiao)說(shuo):“割雞焉用(yong)牛刀。”子(zi)(zi)(zi)游(you)認(ren)真地(di)說(shuo):“昔(xi)者偃也(ye)(ye)聞諸(zhu)夫子(zi)(zi)(zi)曰:‘君(jun)子(zi)(zi)(zi)學(xue)道(dao)(dao)則愛人(ren),小人(ren)學(xue)道(dao)(dao)則易使(shi)也(ye)(ye)。’”孔(kong)子(zi)(zi)(zi)忙說(shuo):“二三子(zi)(zi)(zi)!偃之言是也(ye)(ye)。前言戲之耳。”可見,南武(wu)城地(di)區的(de)(de)文(wen)教(jiao)事業已相當(dang)普及,教(jiao)育已在(zai)平民中展(zhan)開。
膾(kuai)炙人口的“曾(ceng)子殺人”、“曾(ceng)子殺豬”、“慈母投(tou)梭”、“斬蛟投(tou)壁”等故事(shi)被世代傳(chuan)頌,在國(guo)內(nei)外有廣泛的影(ying)響。
西晉(jin)(jin)著(zhu)名(ming)的(de)政治家(jia)、軍事(shi)家(jia)羊(yang)祜和(he)(he)東(dong)(dong)晉(jin)(jin)著(zhu)名(ming)書法家(jia)羊(yang)欣的(de)故(gu)里(li)都是(shi)南武(wu)城,官修《晉(jin)(jin)書》對(dui)此有載。在南武(wu)城故(gu)城遺址東(dong)(dong)邊有曾點墓(mu)和(he)(he)澹臺滅明墓(mu),昭示著(zhu)該(gai)地歷史的(de)悠久。
清(qing)代文(wen)人楊儀廷在《詠懷(huai)古跡》組詩中談南武城故城遺址時說:“當年此地起弦歌,以(yi)武名城意若(ruo)何?百里巖疆資保(bao)障,四周山勢逼嵯峨。斬蛟奮起畸人劍,投杼偏(pian)停慈(ci)母梭。賴有勾吳(wu)賢(xian)邑宰(zai),兩(liang)言(yan)學道總無(wu)頗。”(清(qing)光緒版《費(fei)縣志》卷(juan)十三第二十五頁(ye))