The wolf totem: using metaphor(s) to map the Chinese banking sector

Purpose: This paper uses metaphor to map the Chinese banking sector and make evident the weaknesses of the current system and provide an understanding of how they may be overcome. Design/methodology/approach: The semi-autobiographical novel, The Wolf Totem, is used to explore key aspects of the banking sector, drawing similarities between the types of banks and the various species portrayed in the novel. Findings: An approach to the reformation of the Chinese banking sector that borrows from notions of ecological holism is put forward as a means of ensuring the future success of the sector. Originality/value: This study presents an interesting way of adopting metaphor to make sense of a complex financial system.