楚(chu)(chu)(chu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)的(de)都(dou)城(cheng)已(yi)被晉(jin)(jin)(jin)國(guo)(guo)(guo)的(de)兵(bing)馬圍困三(san)年。晉(jin)(jin)(jin)國(guo)(guo)(guo)出(chu)兵(bing)伐楚(chu)(chu)(chu),是想得到楚(chu)(chu)(chu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)的(de)鎮國(guo)(guo)(guo)之(zhi)(zhi)寶(bao):泰(tai)阿(a)(a)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)。世人(ren)(ren)都(dou)說,泰(tai)阿(a)(a)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)是歐(ou)冶子和干將兩大劍(jian)(jian)(jian)師聯手所鑄。但(dan)是兩位大師卻不(bu)這樣認(ren)為,他們(men)說泰(tai)阿(a)(a)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)是一把諸侯威道(dao)之(zhi)(zhi)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)早(zao)已(yi)存(cun)在,只是無(wu)形、無(wu)跡,但(dan)是劍(jian)(jian)(jian)氣早(zao)已(yi)存(cun)于天地之(zhi)(zhi)間,只等待時(shi)(shi)機凝聚起(qi)來(lai),天時(shi)(shi)、地利、人(ren)(ren)和三(san)道(dao)歸(gui)一,此(ci)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)即成。晉(jin)(jin)(jin)國(guo)(guo)(guo)當時(shi)(shi)最為強(qiang)大,晉(jin)(jin)(jin)君當然(ran)認(ren)為自己最有資(zi)格得到這把寶(bao)劍(jian)(jian)(jian),但(dan)是事與愿(yuan)違,此(ci)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)卻在弱小的(de)楚(chu)(chu)(chu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)鑄成,出(chu)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)之(zhi)(zhi)時(shi)(shi),劍(jian)(jian)(jian)身果(guo)然(ran)天然(ran)鐫(juan)刻篆(zhuan)體“泰(tai)阿(a)(a)”二字,可見(jian)歐(ou)冶子、干將所言不(bu)虛(xu)。晉(jin)(jin)(jin)君當然(ran)咽不(bu)下(xia)這口氣,于是向楚(chu)(chu)(chu)王索(suo)(suo)劍(jian)(jian)(jian),楚(chu)(chu)(chu)王拒絕,于是晉(jin)(jin)(jin)君出(chu)兵(bing)伐楚(chu)(chu)(chu),欲以索(suo)(suo)劍(jian)(jian)(jian)為名(ming)借機滅掉楚(chu)(chu)(chu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)。兵(bing)力懸殊,楚(chu)(chu)(chu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)大部分城(cheng)池很(hen)快陷落并(bing)且都(dou)城(cheng)也(ye)被團(tuan)團(tuan)圍住,一困三(san)年。城(cheng)里糧草(cao)告罄,兵(bing)革無(wu)存(cun),危(wei)在旦夕。
這一(yi)天(tian)(tian),晉國(guo)派來(lai)使者發出最(zui)后通牒:如(ru)再(zai)不(bu)(bu)交劍(jian)(jian),明(ming)(ming)天(tian)(tian)將(jiang)攻(gong)陷此城(cheng)(cheng),到(dao)時玉石俱焚!楚(chu)王(wang)不(bu)(bu)屈(qu),吩咐左右明(ming)(ming)天(tian)(tian)自(zi)(zi)己(ji)要親上城(cheng)(cheng)頭殺敵,如(ru)果城(cheng)(cheng)破(po)(po),自(zi)(zi)己(ji)將(jiang)用(yong)此劍(jian)(jian)自(zi)(zi)刎,然后左右要拾得此劍(jian)(jian),騎(qi)快馬(ma)(ma)奔(ben)到(dao)太(tai)湖,將(jiang)此劍(jian)(jian)沉入湖底,讓泰(tai)阿(a)(a)(a)劍(jian)(jian)永(yong)留楚(chu)國(guo)。第二天(tian)(tian)拂曉,楚(chu)王(wang)登上城(cheng)(cheng)頭,只見城(cheng)(cheng)外晉國(guo)兵馬(ma)(ma)遮天(tian)(tian)蔽(bi)日(ri),自(zi)(zi)己(ji)的都(dou)城(cheng)(cheng)宛如(ru)汪洋之中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的一(yi)葉扁舟,隨時有傾滅危(wei)險。晉國(guo)兵馬(ma)(ma)開(kai)始攻(gong)城(cheng)(cheng),吶喊(han)聲如(ru)同山呼海嘯(xiao),城(cheng)(cheng)破(po)(po)在即(ji)。楚(chu)王(wang)雙手捧劍(jian)(jian),長嘆(tan)一(yi)聲:泰(tai)阿(a)(a)(a)劍(jian)(jian),泰(tai)阿(a)(a)(a)劍(jian)(jian),我今天(tian)(tian)將(jiang)用(yong)自(zi)(zi)己(ji)的鮮血來(lai)祭你!于(yu)是,拔劍(jian)(jian)出鞘,引劍(jian)(jian)直指敵軍。匪(fei)夷(yi)所思的奇跡(ji)出現,只見一(yi)團(tuan)磅礴劍(jian)(jian)氣激(ji)射而出,城(cheng)(cheng)外霎(sha)時飛(fei)沙走石,遮天(tian)(tian)蔽(bi)日(ri),似有猛獸(shou)咆哮其(qi)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),晉國(guo)兵馬(ma)(ma)大(da)亂,片刻之后,旌旗仆(pu)地,流血千里,全軍覆沒。這件事情過后,楚(chu)王(wang)召來(lai)國(guo)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)智者風(feng)胡子問道:泰(tai)阿(a)(a)(a)劍(jian)(jian)為何會有如(ru)此之威?
風胡子說:泰(tai)阿(a)劍是(shi)一把威(wei)道之(zhi)劍,而(er)內心(xin)之(zhi)威(wei)才是(shi)真威(wei),大(da)王身處逆(ni)境威(wei)武不屈,正(zheng)是(shi)內心(xin)之(zhi)威(wei)的(de)卓(zhuo)越(yue)表現(xian)。正(zheng)是(shi)大(da)王的(de)內心(xin)之(zhi)威(wei),激發出泰(tai)阿(a)劍的(de)劍氣之(zhi)威(wei)!見于(yu)《越(yue)絕書》。
《史記·李斯列傳》記載“今陛下(xia)致昆(kun)山之玉,有(you)隨和之寶,垂明(ming)月(yue)之珠,服太阿(a)(a)之劍(jian)。”。這句話的意思(si)是說秦始皇得到的昆(kun)山寶玉有(you)瑞光,堪比(bi)明(ming)月(yue),可至(zhi)太阿(a)(a)。
秦始(shi)皇曾(ceng)配寶劍。死后(hou)大量(liang)陪(pei)葬。很多寶貝都(dou)跟(gen)著埋入始(shi)皇地宮(gong),后(hou)來楚漢相爭(zheng),楚霸王(wang)項羽(yu)搶劫阿(a)房宮(gong),把(ba)里面(mian)很多的(de)(de)寶貝都(dou)帶出來。相傳,項羽(yu)用三(san)十萬人,拉了三(san)天都(dou)沒把(ba)阿(a)房宮(gong)內的(de)(de)寶貝拉完,這一點,在酈(li)道元(yuan)的(de)(de)《水經注》的(de)(de)渭水段也有記載(zai),項羽(yu)后(hou)來火(huo)燒阿(a)房宮(gong)。
有成語“泰阿倒持”,意(yi)為“倒拿著劍(jian)(jian),把劍(jian)(jian)柄給別人(ren)。把大權交給別人(ren),自己反受(shou)其害(hai)。”所以,泰阿劍(jian)(jian)又被命名為太阿劍(jian)(jian)。