Sherlock Holmes in Chinese (1900-1940) Part I
By Don Hobbs

The earliest known translation of Sherlock Holmes into Chinese was in 1901,  when Huang Ding and Zhang Zaixin translated six of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories as part of "Tai Xi Shuo Bu" story series by Lan Ling Press. The series published again by Yu Xue press in 1902.  The stories were "A Scandal in Bohemia"; "The Red-Headed League"; "The Adventure of the Speckled Band"; The Blue Carbuncle"; "The Adventure of the Copper Beeches"; and "The Five Orange Pips".

In 1903, Wen Ming Press published "Xu Bao Ditective" written by "Plice Student", and it included seven  Sherlock Holmes stories.  This series included stories from The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. The same year "Xiu Xiang Stories" vol.4-10 included six Sherlock Holmes stories. These 6 stories was collected and published by Shang Wu Press as "Watson Detective".  This series included " A Scandal in Bohemia" and "The Red-Headed League" form the Adventures  but the other four stories were from the Memoirs. Finally in 1903, Wu Meng, Ji Changkang translated "Only detective: Four Signs".  The Sign of Four was the first translation of a Sherlock Holmes novel in Chinese. 

In 1904 Shang Wu Press published "Case in Case", "Four Signs" "Big Revenge" "Research of Blood Text".  These books were The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes; The Sign of Four; The Return of Sherlock Holmes; and A Study in Scarlet.  The next year, 1905, they published The Hound of Baskerville.   From  1904-1906, Zhou Guisheng, Xi Ruo translated the "The Return of Sherlock Holmes". The Xin Min newspaper published "Sherlock Holmes Detective" in 1904 translated by Zhou Guisheng, "newest detective" in 1906, include 4 detective novels that include one Sherlock Holmes story, although it is still unknown which one.

In 1916, Cheng Xiaoqing and other 10 translators translated "Sherlock Holmes full edition". This was a 12 volume set published by Zhong Hua Press. It included The Sign of Four; A Study in Scarlet; The Hound of the Baskervilles; The Adventures; Memoirs; and The Return of Sherlock Holmes.

In 1923, Da Dong press published "Sherlock Holmes New Mysteries", translator Zhou Shoujuan, Zhang Shewo, published "Sherlock Holmes New Mysteries full edition" . This edition included the entire Canon except The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes.   In 1926, Cheng Xiaoqing translated "Sherlock Holmes Detective Full Edition" again, add some content, published by Shi Jie Press (The World Press), it contain 13 books. This edition published again as "full edition" with vol.1-3.

In 1935 San Xing Press published "Sherlock Holmes full edition", translated by Yang Jinxing. In 1936 Chun Ming Press published "Sherlock Holmes New Mysteries" vol.1-2, translated by Hu Yushu.

In 1937 Shanghai Wu Lin Bookstore and Detective Novel Press published the "Collection of Sherlock Holmes Detective", include 12 books.

Sherlock Holmes: Big Full Edition was published in 1937  by Da Tong Press. This was an eight volume set of  softcover books.  Volume 1:  A Study in Scarlet; Volume 2: "The Adventure of the Dying Detective"; The Bruce Partington Plans"; The Adventure of Thor Bridge"; "The Sussex Vampire"; "Wisteria Lodge"; The Mazarin Stone"; "The Adventure of the Creeping Man"; His Last Bow"; "The Adventure of the Illustrious Client"; "The Three Gables"; "The Adventure of the Lion's Mane"; Volume 3: The Hound of the Baskervilles;  The Sign of Four; and The Valley of Fear.

Sherlock Holmes: Big Full Edition

In 1940 Tse Ming Press published "Sherlock Holmes Detective" in 27 volumes. Volume 1: "The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton"; " The Adventure of the Three- Students"; "The Golden Pince-Nez"; " The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter"; The Adventure of the Abbey Grange"; and "The Adventure of the Second Stain"; Volume 3: The Hound of the Baskervilles; Volume 4: The Return of Sherlock Holmes part 1; Volume 5: The Return of Sherlock Holmes part 2;

Vol. 01

Vol. 03

Vol. 04

Vol. 05

Happy Collecting!!