Dragon Tattoos

Dragon tattoos come in many different shapes, styles and sizes, but they all have certain things in common. The dragon tattoo, popular with both men and women, sends a solid message without the need to be formidable (although it certainly can be). Many dragon tattoos are designed to be spiritual, and to send a message of intelligence and compassion.
The dragon is a mythological creature that is both fearsome and beautiful, and is the subject of folklore around the world. It is a formidable creature, usually seen as a winged or scaly beast with enormous claws that can emit fire from its mouth. In the Western world, dragons are often seen as mean or scary, but Asian dragons carry a different message.

The word dragon comes from 2 Greek words:

* Drakon: meaning "a very big serpent"
* Drakein: meaning "I see clearly"

Dragon tattoos and dragon art in general don't all convey the same meaning. Dragons are part of the myths of many different cultures and in each culture it has its unique set of characteristics and meanings.

Chinese and Japanese dragon tattoos are very popular, but there are many other designs of dragon tattoos, all of which appeal to a wide variety of people. Today’s tattoo artists create dragon tattoo art that can look traditional or modern, tribal or realistic, sweet, charming or terrifying. Some dragon tattoo designs are relatively small and found on an arm or leg, while others are large enough to wrap around the trunk of the body. Either way, the dragon tattoo is a strong image and sends a strong message.

Japanese Dragon Tattoos

The dragon is an important part of Japanese mythology. In Japan, the dragon is seen as a water deity (that's why Japanese dragon tattoos often include clouds).

Japanese dragons have the following characteristics:

* No wings
* Serpentine-like
* The head of a camel
* Scales of a carp
* The paws of a tiger
* Claws like an eagle
* Japanese dragons often have long whiskers
* Sometimes they have a jewel under the chin.

Other interesting aspects of the Japanese dragon includes the fact that many in Japan believe that the first emperor of Japan was somehow descended from a dragon, giving it a position of high respect in Japanese culture. Dragons are often used in Japanese art to represent protection of the imperial family.

The Japanese dragon tattoo represents:

* Power
* Family
* Protection (of family and home)
* Longevity

There are many types of Japanese dragons, including:

* Sui-Riu: the king dragon who controls the rain.
* Han-Riu: the biggest dragon, has stripes on his body
* Ka-Riu: a smaller red dragon
* Fuku-Riu: the dragon of luck

Dragon Japanese Tattoos