The Japanese dragon is really seen as a guardian and bringer of happiness. In Japan, dragons represent the protection of family and loved ones, the protection of the home as well as power and longevity. They are usually aquatic creatures although, a few Japanese legends describe flying dragons that live in the sky. It was even thought that the first Japanese emperor was the descendant of dragons. What's more, readers of this article can get 10% off their order with the discount code TATTOO10, isn't that sweet! Just click the image below. 👇ĭragons are among the most important creatures in Japanese culture.

It's also a symbol of masculinity and fighting spirit, which is why Vikings adorned the head of their drakkars with dragon representations.īy the way, do you know what goes hand in hand with a badass dragon tattoo? That's right, an epic dragon ring! So if you have a minute or two, have a look at our rings, we've got a great collection of silver and steel dragon jewelry. A western dragon tattoo can therefore be a sign of power and courage which are the qualities of the knights who fought dragons. In Greek and Nordic mythologies, fighting a dragon was a way for men to become true heroes. It's usually a powerful and frightening monster that is not to be messed with. In Western traditions, the dragon has the opposite connotation of its Oriental counterpart. A dragon going downward is seen as a bad omen. Quick fact: Chinese dragons are almost always depicted as ascending toward the sky. As opposed to the western dragon, Chinese dragons are not violent they are considered as protectors and helpful to mankind. In terms of meaning a Chinese dragon tattoo represents: strength, power, wisdom, longevity, and good luck.

It was even used on the flag of the Qing Dynasty from 1862 to 1912. Back in the days of imperial China, the dragon was the symbol of the emperor who was the only person allowed to make representations of dragons. Chinese Dragon Tattoo Meaningĭragons are the most revered creatures of Chinese mythology.

Since dragon tattoos come in a wide variety of styles, we have selected the most common designs to explore their meaning in details. Yeah, that's quite a long and generic list but don't worry, we're about to get more specific. In general dragons (and dragon tattoos) are associated with strength, wisdom, prosperity, good luck as well as masculinity. Though its representation varies, some of its characteristics are universal. The dragon has always had a very strong symbolic power in most countries and cultures. Deciphering the meaning of dragon tattoos is no walk in the park given how rich and complex the symbolism of this creature is.

S shaped dragon tattoo