歷史上的(de)一(yi)些典籍,對南(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)的(de)稱謂(wei)有(you)四:南(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)、武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)、南(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)、南(nan)成(cheng)。不同(tong)(tong)史籍對該(gai)城(cheng)(cheng)的(de)稱謂(wei)不同(tong)(tong),有(you)些書(shu)籍在不同(tong)(tong)卷次里也有(you)不同(tong)(tong)的(de)說法(fa)。根據古(gu)漢語(yu)的(de)行文規則可知,武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)、南(nan)城(cheng)(cheng)、南(nan)成(cheng)均為南(nan)武(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)之省(sheng)筆。
根據(ju)(ju)史料(liao)考證,南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)的(de)(de)建城(cheng)時(shi)(shi)間在東周(zhou)(zhou)中(zhong)期(qi)的(de)(de)公元(yuan)前554年(nian)(魯襄公十九年(nian))。此時(shi)(shi),已處于春秋末期(qi),諸(zhu)侯(hou)割據(ju)(ju)造(zao)成了周(zhou)(zhou)王(wang)(wang)(wang)(wang)朝內(nei)部日(ri)趨動蕩不安,魯襄公為抵御齊(qi)(qi)國(guo)而在這(zhe)一(yi)戰(zhan)(zhan)略(lve)要地(di)筑城(cheng)。據(ju)(ju)編年(nian)體史書《竹書紀(ji)年(nian)》載,公元(yuan)前427年(nian)(周(zhou)(zhou)考王(wang)(wang)(wang)(wang)十四年(nian)),作(zuo)為魯國(guo)“三桓(huan)”之(zhi)一(yi)的(de)(de)季孫后裔不甘心臣(chen)服魯國(guo)而自(zi)立(li)費國(guo),南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)遂為費國(guo)所(suo)并(bing)。戰(zhan)(zhan)國(guo)時(shi)(shi)期(qi)曾被(bei)齊(qi)(qi)國(guo)占領(ling),成為齊(qi)(qi)、楚兩國(guo)邊境上(shang)的(de)(de)要隘(ai)。據(ju)(ju)《史記·田(tian)敬(jing)世家》載,公元(yuan)前333年(nian)(齊(qi)(qi)威王(wang)(wang)(wang)(wang)二(er)十四年(nian)),齊(qi)(qi)王(wang)(wang)(wang)(wang)與威王(wang)(wang)(wang)(wang)斗寶(bao)時(shi)(shi)說:“吾臣(chen)有檀子(zi)者(zhe),使守南(nan)(nan)(nan)城(cheng),則(ze)楚人(ren)不敢為寇,東取(qu)泗上(shang)十二(er)諸(zhu)侯(hou)皆來朝。”將南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)的(de)(de)守將檀子(zi)喻為國(guo)寶(bao)。公元(yuan)前256年(nian)(周(zhou)(zhou)郝王(wang)(wang)(wang)(wang)五十九年(nian))南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)隨魯國(guo)一(yi)同被(bei)楚國(guo)吞并(bing)。南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng),在秦代屬瑯(lang)琊郡(jun)。西漢屬東海郡(jun),為侯(hou)國(guo)(《漢書·地(di)理志(zhi)》稱南(nan)(nan)(nan)成),城(cheng)陽(yang)(yang)共王(wang)(wang)(wang)(wang)之(zhi)子(zi)劉貞(zhen)被(bei)封為南(nan)(nan)(nan)城(cheng)侯(hou),王(wang)(wang)(wang)(wang)莽時(shi)(shi)位(wei)絕。東漢置南(nan)(nan)(nan)城(cheng)縣,至北齊(qi)(qi)時(shi)(shi)并(bing)入南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)(wu)陽(yang)(yang)縣。南(nan)(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)從東周(zhou)(zhou)到東漢,有著500余年(nian)的(de)(de)輝煌。
南(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)依山傍水,地處要沖,自古就(jiu)是兵家必爭(zheng)之(zhi)地。據《左傳》載(zai),公(gong)元(yuan)前565年(nian)(nian)(魯襄(xiang)公(gong)八年(nian)(nian)),吳國進(jin)攻(gong)魯國,就(jiu)是先占南(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),然后(hou)揮師直(zhi)抵泗水,威(wei)逼魯都曲(qu)阜。公(gong)元(yuan)前519年(nian)(nian)(魯昭公(gong)二十三年(nian)(nian)),“邾人(ren)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)翼還,將自離姑,武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)人(ren)塞其前。”駐武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)魯兵將邾人(ren)全部俘獲。公(gong)元(yuan)前487年(nian)(nian)(魯哀公(gong)八年(nian)(nian)),“吳伐我,道(dao)險(xian),從武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。”西漢(han)瑯琊人(ren)樊崇率赤(chi)眉(mei)軍占領(ling)(ling)南(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng),并以南(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)為依托與官兵周旋(xuan)。明末清初的(de)(de)農民起義(yi)領(ling)(ling)袖王(wang)肖武(wu)(wu)(wu)占領(ling)(ling)南(nan)(nan)武(wu)(wu)(wu)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)自稱“九山王(wang)”,在(zai)此堅持斗爭(zheng)達(da)十數(shu)年(nian)(nian)之(zhi)久。
南(nan)武城(cheng)自古山川形勝,鐘靈毓秀(xiu),人才輩出(chu),文(wen)武兼備。該(gai)地(di)(di)是(shi)春秋戰國時期儒家一(yi)代傳人“宗圣”曾(ceng)參和孔子(zi)(zi)另一(yi)高足澹(dan)臺滅明(ming)的故(gu)里。孔子(zi)(zi)的得意(yi)門生——子(zi)(zi)游(言(yan)偃,字子(zi)(zi)游)曾(ceng)任武城(cheng)宰。據《論語(yu)·陽貨篇(pian)》載,一(yi)次孔子(zi)(zi)到(dao)南(nan)武城(cheng),聽(ting)到(dao)彈琴唱歌之生不絕(jue)于(yu)耳(er),看(kan)到(dao)一(yi)片繁榮景象(xiang),于(yu)是(shi)對子(zi)(zi)游開玩笑說(shuo):“割雞焉(yan)用(yong)牛刀。”子(zi)(zi)游認真地(di)(di)說(shuo):“昔者偃也聞(wen)諸(zhu)夫子(zi)(zi)曰:‘君子(zi)(zi)學道則愛人,小人學道則易使也。’”孔子(zi)(zi)忙說(shuo):“二三(san)子(zi)(zi)!偃之言(yan)是(shi)也。前(qian)言(yan)戲之耳(er)。”可(ke)見,南(nan)武城(cheng)地(di)(di)區的文(wen)教事(shi)業(ye)已(yi)相當普及,教育(yu)已(yi)在平(ping)民中展(zhan)開。
膾炙人(ren)口(kou)的“曾子(zi)殺(sha)(sha)人(ren)”、“曾子(zi)殺(sha)(sha)豬”、“慈母投梭”、“斬蛟投壁”等故事被世代傳頌,在(zai)國內外有(you)廣泛(fan)的影響(xiang)。
西晉(jin)著(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)名的政治家(jia)、軍事家(jia)羊祜和(he)東晉(jin)著(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)名書法家(jia)羊欣的故里都是南武(wu)城,官(guan)修《晉(jin)書》對此有載(zai)。在南武(wu)城故城遺址(zhi)東邊有曾點墓(mu)和(he)澹(dan)臺滅明墓(mu),昭示著(zhu)(zhu)(zhu)該地歷(li)史的悠久。
清(qing)代文(wen)人楊(yang)儀廷在(zai)《詠懷古跡(ji)》組詩中(zhong)談南武城(cheng)故城(cheng)遺址(zhi)時說:“當年此地起(qi)弦歌(ge),以(yi)武名城(cheng)意若何?百里巖疆資(zi)保障(zhang),四(si)周山勢逼嵯峨。斬蛟奮起(qi)畸人劍,投杼(zhu)偏停慈(ci)母梭。賴有勾吳賢(xian)邑宰,兩言學道總無頗。”(清(qing)光緒版《費縣志》卷十三第二(er)十五頁)