During the Spring and Autumn period, the state of Chu had a famed minister named Ao, styled Sunshu, known to all as Sunshu Ao. Legend has it that as a child, he once encountered a snake with two heads on the road. Having heard superstitious folk say that anyone who saw such a creature would die instantly, he thought, "Before I die, I must kill this snake so no one else will see it and perish." He promptly struck it dead, dug a pit, and buried it deep. In the end, he did not die from the sighting. When his mother learned of this, she praised him greatly.
Through diligent study and a strong family upbringing, Sunshu Ao amassed vast knowledge. After becoming an official, he mobilized laborers to build irrigation systems, boosting agricultural output, which earned him the favor of King Zhuang of Chu and a promotion to lingyin, a role equivalent to prime minister. He later oversaw water conservancy projects and helped the king command Chu's army to a decisive victory over the Jin forces.
Sunshu Ao had rendered invaluable service to the state of Chu, and King Zhuang deeply trusted and respected him. Yet after Sunshu Ao's death, the king quickly forgot his contributions and left his family with no support. Sunshu Ao's son was so impoverished that he had to chop wood for a living, enduring a life of great hardship.
One day, Sunshu Ao's son recalled his father's dying words: "After I die, if you are truly destitute, go to You Meng—he will surely help you."
In ancient China, performers who made a living through music, dance, and comedy were called "you." This performer surnamed Meng was witty and eloquent, often using jokes to offer satirical advice to King Zhuang. Sunshu Ao's son recalled a story his father had told him about You Meng's satirical advice to King Zhuang.
King Zhuang of Chu had an extraordinary love for horses, dressing his favorite steed in embroidered robes, housing it in a fine mansion, letting it sleep on a bed, and feeding it jujube cakes. When the horse died, the king insisted on burying it with the rites of a high minister. When his courtiers objected, he decreed, "Whoever dares to oppose me on this shall be put to death!" The ministers fell silent, daring not to counsel him further.
When You Meng learned of this, he decided to intervene. Upon meeting King Zhuang, he burst into loud wails. The puzzled king asked, 'Why are you crying so bitterly?' You Meng replied through his sobs, 'Your Majesty treasures this horse above all else, yet now that it has sadly died, you only bury it with the rites of a high minister—that is too shabby! I beg you to bury it with the full honors of a monarch.'
"Then, how should we bury this horse according to the rites for a ruler?" King Zhuang asked.
You Meng stopped crying and said with a straight face, "I propose we give it a coffin carved from jade, wrapped in the finest wood, and have all the people and soldiers build its tomb. For the funeral procession, let the envoys of Qi and Zhao lead the way, with those from Han and Wei following behind. We should also build a temple for it and grant it a fief of ten thousand households. Only then will the other lords see that Your Majesty truly values horses over people."
Hearing this, King Zhuang of Chu realized his mistake and immediately canceled the grand funeral plans for his beloved horse.
Sunshu Ao's son, hoping the performer You Meng could truly help, went to explain his plight. You Meng listened with deep sympathy and promised to do his utmost.
From that day on, You Meng secretly studied and imitated Sun Shu'ao's speech, gestures, and mannerisms. After more than a year, he had become remarkably similar in every way. When King Zhuang celebrated his birthday, You Meng donned the very robes and cap Sun Shu'ao had worn in life and stepped forward to toast the king. No one could tell he was an imposter.
King Zhuang was startled, thinking Sun Shu'ao had returned to life, and instantly recalled how he had once assisted him, asking him to serve as Lingyin again. You Meng feigned hesitation and replied, "Your Majesty, allow me to go home and discuss this with my wife, and I will give you my answer in a few days."
A few days later, You Meng went to see King Zhuang again. The king asked him eagerly, "How did your discussion with your wife go? What did she say?"
You Meng deliberately frowned and said, "She disagreed and said absolutely do not become the Prime Minister of Chu. Take Sun Shu'ao for example, he served Chu with such loyalty and dedication, governed so well, and helped you make Chu a hegemon. But after his death, his son was so poor he could only make a living by gathering firewood..."
King Zhuang of Chu, upon closer inspection, realized the man before him was not Sun Shu'ao but the performer You Meng. After removing Sun Shu'ao's robes and cap, You Meng recounted in vivid detail how the minister had lived in honest poverty and left his family destitute. Deeply moved, the king thanked You Meng and immediately summoned Sun Shu'ao's son, granting him four hundred households of land so he and his descendants would enjoy wealth and honor.
Later, people derived the idiom "You Meng's Costume" from this story, using it to describe pretending to be an ancient or imitating others.
Source: *Records of the Grand Historian*, "Biography of the Humorists"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "优孟衣冠" came to describe pretending to be an ancient or imitating others.