In most ancient cultures elements principally appeared as subtsances (Hinduist, Hellenic) or sensed, perceived physical things (Buddhist). The Chinese philosophy conceived of the so called "Five elements" (Wu Xing) as dynamic states of Change. The very ancient concept of Wu Xing is applied as a universal device in Chinese thought including military strategy, martial arts, astrology, science, philosophy, music, medicine as well as Feng-shui. According to some researcher's opinion it was applied primarily in ceremonies and political management several thousand years ago. (Among of others, that is why it became the keystone of our Project Management methodology). Altough the the term "Five elements" is frequently used and wide-spreaded, the correct translation of the original

Chinese term ("Wu zhong liu xing zhi chi") would be the "Five Qualities of Change", "Five States of Change" or "Five Movements of Change". This ancient holistic theory comprises a dynamic system that describes natural, cyclical movements within space and therefore time as well. This approach enables a practitioner to think and act more efficiently. The theory describes the five observable qualities, elements, states or transition stages of the CHANGE with their complex interactions and interrelationships. It represents five different qualities of natural phenomena rather than five fixed substances. The five universal, interconnecting elements / qualities / movements of change - in the order of natural lifecycle from beginnings to completions - are the following:

All the five states/elements/QUALITY of the CHANGE are ESSENTIAL, but none of them should be under- or overemphasized. There is another important thing: nothing is constant but the Change itself. The ancient Eastern approaches including Five Elements theory announce that all things are cycling and changing and the CHANGE itself is in balance when all the five elements interact in harmony.

Please note that usually we are not talking about real materials in relation to Five Elements. The names are rather symbolic, the metaphorical representations of the way the changing energy / quality behaves. The ancient Eastern approaches (content of the Book of Changes /I-Ching/, Yin-Yang, Five elements) can describe all phenomena of our changing world, however we only introduce it as the part of our comprehensive change and project management approach.