In Chinese cosmology, which Japanese is based on too, the source of

everything is tao, the universal law. From tao comes one which is

existence. From it form two powers, ying and yang, which are both opposite

of each other and filling each other. The interaction of ying and yang

creates ki, so that these two becomes three. Ki is the "immaterial

breathing", which Lao Tzu wrote about. It is in many shapes, from light

to granite. Even immobile matter is built from very dense ki, just like

every matter is formed of particles of energy.

So, how three becomes "ten thousand"?

According to the old philosophy ki appears in five forms of energy,

which are called the five elements. They are fire, earth, metal, water

and tree. Each of those have their own special characteristics, which

become visible in some of the "ten thousand" things or beings.

For example flora belongs mostly to the tree element and stones and

minerals to the metal element. Every one of the ten thousand things

or beings of nature has some kind of combination of ying and yang

and an unique combination of the five elements, which forms "the real

ki" of the thing or being.