You Meng (优孟 Yōu Mèng|l=Performer Meng, 590s BC), also commonly translated as
Jester Meng, was a court musician and entertainer in the service of
King Zhuang of Chu (reigned 613–591 BC). He is regarded as China's first actor, and the expression "You Meng's robes and cap" is still used to refer to theater and acting.
Once, King Zhuang decided on an elaborate funeral for his favorite horse (which died of obesity) "with outer and inner coffins and the rites appropriate to a minister." Anyone who dared to challenge this decision was to be executed. You Meng entered the palace with a loud cry and "advised" the king to make the burial even more lavish, "establish an ancestral temple, sacrifice a tailao, and institute a fief of ten thousand households to provide the offerings." The king realized that he went too far and following You Meng's recommendation, had the horse cooked and fed to his courtiers, as was the proper conduct.
Before the prime minister Sunshu Ao died in 593 BC, he treated You Meng well. After his death, his family was reduced to poverty. One day, You Meng ran into his son gathering firewood and decided to help him. He imitated Sunshu Ao's speech and manners for a year until men could not tell the difference. During a banquet, wearing Sunshu Ao's robes and cap, he appeared before King Zhuang as "Sunshu Ao". The king was shocked and wanted "Sunshu Ao" back in his government; but "Sunshu Ao" replied that he needed to go home and discuss it with his wife first. A few days later, You Meng returned and told the king that the wife objected because despite having served with total dedication and loyalty, Sunshu Ao died without any property and his son had to gather firewood to make ends meet. He followed this remonstration with a song. The king then gave Sunshu Ao's son a piece of land.
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优孟（？ - ？），中国春秋时期
楚国乐师，长八尺（亦有说为五尺），多辨，常以谈笑讽谏。其史见于
司马迁。
Read more...: 名称 楚庄葬马 优孟衣冠 优孟歌
名称
优孟本名孟，因出身平民，故有名而无姓氏，因古人习以身份职业冠于名前而唤其为优孟。
楚庄葬马
楚庄王有一爱马，庄王尝为其穿华美锦绣，住雕梁画栋，以无帷之床做卧席，用蜜饯的枣乾喂养。一日，马因病悴死，庄王要臣子给马治丧，欲用棺椁盛殓，依照安葬大夫之礼仪安葬之。近臣劝止，以为不可。庄王皆不纳。
优孟闻此事，急进朝殿，故作仰天大哭貌，庄王问其因。优孟曰：「马是大王所珍爱的，凭力量巨大的楚国，有什么得不到的，却按照大夫的礼仪安葬它，太微薄了，请用安葬君主的礼仪安葬它。」庄王曰：「因何？」优孟对曰：「我请求用雕刻花纹的美玉做内棺，有花纹的梓木做外椁，楩、枫、豫、樟各色上等木材做护棺的题凑，派遣军士给它挖掘墓穴，以至年迈体弱的人背土筑坟，齐国、赵国的使节在前头陪祭，韩国、魏国的使节在后面守卫，盖一座庙宇用牛羊猪祭祀，拨个万户的大县供奉。各国听到这件事，都知道大王轻视人而重视马。」
庄王曰：「我竟过失至此！该如何做？」优孟曰：「让我替大王用对待六畜的办法来安葬它。筑个土灶做外椁，用口铜鬲当棺材，用姜枣来调味，用木兰来解腥，用稻米作祭品，用火光作衣裳，把它安葬在人们的胃肠里。」庄王称善，即派人将之交给主管宫中膳食的太官处理。
优孟衣冠
楚相孙叔敖死后，其子孙安穷困无依，乃至于无以维生。优孟于是著敖衣冠，仿其神态、动作见楚庄王。庄王大惊，误为叔敖再世，优孟乃趁机讽谏，遂使孙叔敖之子得封于寝丘，保有富贵。后人以此为成语，比喻假扮他人或登台做戏。
优孟歌
为优孟为谏讽楚庄王所作的诗歌，其文载于。
「山居耕田苦，难以得食。起而为吏，身贪鄙者馀财，不顾耻辱。身死家室富，又恐受赇枉法，为奸触大罪，身死而家灭。贪吏安可为也！念为廉吏，奉法守职，竟死不敢为非。廉吏安可为也！楚相孙叔敖持廉至死，方今妻子穷困负薪而食，不足为也！」
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