威廉·莎士比亚的戏剧在中国最早开始上演的时间为1902年,最早上演的剧目为由兰姆姐弟的《莎士比亚戏剧故事集》改编的《威尼斯商人》。之后该剧以《一磅肉》《肉卷》《借债割肉》或《女律师》等各种剧名在全国各地的舞台上演。本文旨在以文献研究及历史分析为研究方法来探寻《威尼斯商人》在20世纪初期的中国获得广泛好评并且屡演不衰的原因。 William Shakespeare’s plays were first staged in China in 1902, with the earliest repertoire being “The Merchant of Venice,” adapted from the sisters’ “Shakespeare Collection” by Lamb’s sisters. After the play to “a pound of meat” “Rou Rou” “borrow money” or “lawyers” and other titles in the stage across the country staged. The purpose of this paper is to use literature research and historical analysis as a research method to explore the reason why “the merchant of Venice” was widely acclaimed and frequently used in China in the early 20th century.