The Wallet of Kai Lung is a collection of fantasy stories by Ernest Bramah, all but the last of which feature Kai Lung, an itinerant story-teller of ancient China. It was first published in hardcover in London by Grant Richards in 1900, and there have been numerous editions since. Its initial tale, The Transmutation of Ling, was also issued by the same publisher as a separate chapbook in 1911. The collection's importance in the history of fantasy literature was recognized by the anthologization of two of its tales in the celebrated Ballantine Adult Fantasy Series, edited by Lin Carter and published by Ballantine Books; "The Vision of Yin" in Discoveries in Fantasy (March, 1972), and "The Transmutation of Ling" in Great Short Novels of Adult Fantasy Volume II (March, 1973).

Although the collection is presented in the fashion of a novel, with each of its component stories designated chapters, there is no overall plot aside from each of the first eight tales being presented as narratives told by Kai Lung at various points in his itinerant career. The final tale is represented as being from a manuscript left by its own separate first-person narrator, Kin Yen.

TheTransmutation of Ling (excerpt)

The sun had dipped behind the western mountainsbefore Kai Lung, with twenty li or more still between him and thecity of Knei Yang, entered the camphor-laurel forest which stretchedalmost to his destination. No person of consequence ever made thejourney unattended; but Kai Lung professed to have no fear, remarkingwith extempore wisdom, when warned at the previous village, that aworthless garment covered one with better protection than thatafforded by an army of bowmen. Nevertheless, when within the gloomyaisles, Kai Lung more than once wished himself back at the village,or safely behind the mud walls of Knei Yang; and, making many vowsconcerning the amount of prayer-paper which he would assuredly burnwhen he was actually through the gates, he stepped out more quickly,until suddenly, at a turn in the glade, he stopped altogether, whilethe watchful expression into which he had unguardedly dropped at oncechanged into a mask of impassiveness and extreme unconcern. Frombehind the next tree projected a long straight rod, not unlike aslender bamboo at a distance, but, to Kai Lung's all-seeing eye, inreality the barrel of a matchlock, which would come into line withhis breast if he took another step. Being a prudent man, moreaccustomed to guile and subservience to destiny than to force, hetherefore waited, spreading out his hands in proof of his peacefulacquiescence, and smiling cheerfully until it should please the ownerof the weapon to step forth. This the unseen did a moment later,still keeping his gun in an easy and convenient attitude, revealing astout body and a scarred face, which in conjunction made it plain toKai Lung that he was in the power of Lin Yi, a noted brigand of whomhe had heard much in the villages.

"O illustrious person," said Kai Lung veryearnestly, "this is evidently an unfortunate mistake. Doubtless youwere expecting some exalted Mandarin to come and render you homage,and were preparing to overwhelm him with gratified confusion byescorting him yourself to your well-appointed abode. Indeed, I passedsuch a one on the road, very richly apparelled, who inquired of methe way...