Dragon tattoo: features and ideas. Dragon Tattoo - Myths, Legends and the Power of Dragons on Your Body Tattoo dragon sketches

The dragon came to Japan from China and was also a divine creature who had control over the elements of water and air. He was the main character of a large number of myths and legends. In appearance it was similar to the Chinese dragon, however, there were 2 differences:

• the number of toes on his paw - there were three;
• number of heads - there were several of them.

The Japanese dragon was closely connected with people, and if he was treated with reverence and respect, then in return he could thank his admirer with a treasure, because they were very rich.

The Japanese dragon had the ability to transform into any creature, which he often used to come to the world of mere mortals. However, there were also bad dragons that brought chaos and destruction. Among these, the Japanese dragon “Yamata no Orochi” is an eight-headed and eight-tailed lizard with one body. This dragon had the demonic power of the world of the dead and devoured all mortals. Every head of his had a meaning: death, greed, destruction, betrayal, hatred, ugliness, envy, murder and greed. After eight years of terror, he was defeated by a mythical hero named "Susanoo".

Nowadays, temples in honor of dragons have been built in Japan, which are located on the shores of lakes, rivers and seas. Sculptures of dragons decorate many Buddhist temples, thereby showing their importance in the human world.

Meaning of Japanese dragon tattoo

The Japanese dragon tattoo, first of all, means well-being, intelligence, positive energy and protection. This tattoo brings good luck and symbolizes long life, wisdom and fearlessness.

In the criminal world, this tattoo is very revered, especially in the criminal group called the Yakuza. Its participants paint a drawing of a Japanese dragon on their body and chest, thereby showing everyone around them their power and belonging to a criminal structure.

Position, color and compatibility of tattoos

Some of the popular places to get a Japanese dragon tattoo are the back, arm and chest. As a rule, a Japanese dragon tattoo is made in volume in order to draw all the important parts.

Regarding color, looking at photos and drawings of the Japanese dragon, you can see that black, gold, red and green colors are predominantly used, which look most favorable in combination. Stylistically, a Japanese dragon tattoo is depicted in Orietal style with the addition of various components:

• Tiger;
• Koi carp;
• Hieroglyph;
• Phoenix;
• Fire, flame;
• Flowers.

The Japanese dragon tattoo is a very powerful symbol and the person who wants to put it on their body must be energetically compatible with it and have an affinity with its meaning.

This mythical character has nothing in common with his European counterparts, who have always belonged to the dark side, possessing a number of negative characteristics.

Japanese Dragon Tattoo is a bright, colorful image of a fairy-tale character with an abundance of detailed details and a multi-faceted plot. This mythical creature is depicted as a large snake-like scaly creature with horns, claws and a fancy beard. The dragon is capable of spewing flame, thereby symbolizing some kind of higher justice that will certainly overtake the guilty. The Japanese Dragon is neither evil nor good. These are forces of nature acting depending on circumstances. Accordingly, the meaning of a tattoo with such an image is often interpreted differently. After all, the Dragon equally symbolizes the powers of heaven, water and earth.

To depict the Dragon in all its glory, you will need a master who not only has impeccable taste and practical skills, but also has an understanding of the basics of Eastern symbolism.

The history of the Dragon tattoo

While in medieval Europe Dragons were considered the fiends of Hell, in the East these controversial mythical creatures have always been idolized, considering them saviors and protectors of the disadvantaged. Temples were built and altars erected in their honor. Most Buddhist temples are decorated with sculptural images of the Dragon, thereby providing clear evidence of the importance of this image in people’s lives.

The Dragon settled on the Japanese Islands a little later than on the territory of China, having migrated there from the Celestial Empire several thousand years ago. The uniqueness and isolation of Japanese culture left a certain imprint on the appearance of the creature, although it did not take it too far from the original source. Although the visual image is relatively identical, this Japanese fairy tale character still has a number of differences. First of all, this is the presence of additional heads and three-fingered limbs. Otherwise, it is still the same stylized mythical lizard, commanding water, earth and air, as well as the creatures inhabiting them.

In accordance with the plots of Japanese fairy tales and legends, the Dragon is inextricably linked with people. He is worshiped and respected, and in return the creature gives the petitioner part of his countless wealth. One of the Dragon's abilities is to transform into any animal or bird. In a similar image, the fabulous lizard appears to people, remaining unrecognizable until the end of the journey to the “mortal world”. Along with positive images of Dragons, there were also negative characters in Japanese mythology in the person of the eight-headed lizard Yamata no Orochi. This Dragon ate ordinary mortals and was famous for the fact that each of its many heads correlated with one of the negative human qualities: betrayal, greed, envy, hatred, etc. Over time, Yamata no Orochi fell at the hands of another hero of Japanese mythology - Susanoo.

Main places of application and color solutions

Being a large and majestic creature, the Japanese Dragon requires the allocation of a fairly large area of ​​the human body for its own image. These standards mainly correspond to the back and chest. In this case, the pattern can move from the back to the neck, arm or hips. The tattoo is usually implemented in a palette that contains black, red, green and gold. Their combination, as a rule, most fully reflects the entire inner essence and external attractiveness of the Dragon. In terms of style, the image is most often made in the Oriental style, but options are possible (Traditional, Trible). Oriental style involves adding to the composition such ethnic Japanese elements as Koi Carp, Tiger, Phoenix, Fire, Flowers, Hieroglyphs, etc.

What does a Dragon tattoo mean?

For each person, such an image on the body can mean a variety of things. Accordingly, the meaning of the picture varies. If we summarize the basic concepts of visualization of the Japanese Dragon, then it is a symbol of strength, greatness, fearlessness, wisdom, power, longevity and some mythical mystery. Previously, dragon tattoos were widespread mainly in Japanese criminal organizations. For example, members of the famous “Yakuza” covered almost their entire body with corresponding images, thereby demonstrating their belonging to a criminal clan and the threat that this clan poses to others.

Since we are away from the Japanese Islands, the Dragon for us means something positive and sublime. By placing his image on the body, a person thereby invites good luck, wisdom and longevity. Depending on the composition, color and style, a painting can ultimately mean a lot. For example, the sleeping Dragon symbolizes spiritual harmony, and its flying version means friendliness. Being united with the Tiger, the Dragon becomes part of the eastern symbol of Yin and Yang, and its presence of wings testifies to the strength of spirit and the inviolability of faith. A dragon with horns is firm in making decisions, with teeth it is aggressive, and with golden elements it is wise. If he crawls on the ground, then this is a symbol of the connection between two elements - Heaven and Earth. Having coins next to the Dragon means prosperity and wealth.

Choice of men and women

Representatives of the stronger half of humanity usually prefer more aggressive compositions in which the Dragon is depicted with an open mouth, spewing flames or raising a sword. The palette is often dominated by darker colors. Women, as a rule, choose fancy images, not devoid of grace, complemented by decorative elements, multi-colored and with various inscriptions.

It is important to approach the choice of a sketch with all seriousness. It is necessary that the finished tattoo is not only attractive in appearance, but also reflects the inner world of the owner. Any dissonance can upset the fragile balance of the above-mentioned tandem, as a result of which the tattoo can cause destruction of the energy field.

Every person is a unique, individual person. To stand out from the general background, attract attention, and show your originality, many different methods are used, one of which is a tattoo.

The presence of dragon tattoos on various parts of the human body has an ambiguous meaning. One thing is certain: a man or woman wearing a tattoo with the image of a dragon cannot be weak-willed and weak-willed people, white and “fluffy”, submissive and dumb.

The meaning of a dragon tattoo

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Tattoos in most cases young people do: from informal groups, from various social groups and organizations. Or just connoisseurs of body art.

In this article we will talk about dragon tattoos. It can be small in size, miniature, pinned onto parts of the body that are not at all noticeable to others. Or maybe large, prominent, in open areas, visible to everyone. But regardless of size, color, the tattoo has a specific meaning and contains the message that its owner wants to explain to others.

The image of a dragon can carry different meanings.

The appearance of a flying kite exists in the cultures of almost all countries both European and Asian. But in each culture, the appearance of the lizard was depicted differently.

Chinese dragon

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This Asian people endowed the dragon divine qualities. They believed that he set the weather for them: decides when it will rain or snow, when there will be a sandstorm or hurricane. In his management, in their opinion, there were all four elements: Fire, Water, Air, Earth . He could turn into anyone: insect or even human. Therefore, the Chinese treated the dragon with respect and admiration. They wanted to appease him and not anger him. The lizard was considered a symbol of the well-being of the ruling imperial family, so its images can be found in the palace, on the bed in the emperor’s chambers.

Japanese kite

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The image of a huge mythical lizard among the Japanese symbolized prudence, prudence, luck in everything, strength, power and omnipotence. The people of Japan considered the dragon to be their protector, brave and powerful. He was depicted at the entrances to churches and fire stations.

In the Land of the Rising Sun, the reptile is a sacred creature. Often images of a dragon could be found on the body of the yakuza, by this they emphasized their strength and dominance.

Europeans have a dragon

In European countries and Russia, the image of a mythical lizard from legends has other meaning. A fire-breathing snake, strong, evil, treacherous. He is powerful, he has huge wings, a very long and thick tail. Unlike his Asian brothers, he has no horns or beard.

European peoples have a dragon - bad guy, personifying the dark forces of evil, he must be killed. He ravaged and burned villages and hamlets, destroyed fortresses, took the most beautiful girls for himself, and took away treasures. Rus' also had its own dragon - Dragon , sometimes with three heads.

Thus, the dragon tattoo was depicted in different ways:

1 Among Eastern and Asian peoples - a snake that has paws and no wings.

2 Europeans have a lizard whose head rests on an elongated and powerful neck, has wings, and a body covered in scales like a fish.

Dragon tattoo color meaning

When depicting a tattoo, the choice of color palette is of great importance. Each color has its own meaning.

• Tattoo yellow colors symbolize struggle, confrontation of forces, attack. Used quite rarely.
• Red the shade represents strong emotions of love and passion. Protects family values.
• Serpent green color emphasizes unity with nature.
• Lizard blue or cyan flowers represent the infinity of life's journey, calmness, compassion.
• Reptile gold color is a sign of generosity, greatness of soul, prudence.
• The Dragon black- a symbol of attention to people, admiration for parents.

The meaning of a dragon tattoo can be explained as the personification of evil or good, dreams and sinlessness, a jealous attitude and enmity.

Tattoo flying monster popular among both men and women. Emphasizes the powerful spirit and power of its owner, malice and mercilessness, at the same time prudence, prudence and justice. The color of the tattoo will enhance the importance of certain qualities that its owner wants to emphasize.

Meaning of Dragon Pose

The image of a mythical lizard takes on different meanings.

Winged reptile behind prison bars

Very often, people in the “zone” draw dragon tattoos on themselves. But, as a rule, when stuffing them, prisoners are not guided by any meaning. As an exception to the rule, there is an image of a lizard, which flies over the roofs of castles. This means that the person is sent to prison for theft of property on a large scale, or the fact that everything was confiscated from him.

The Chinese and Japanese (Yakuza) tattooed dragons on their chests, backs, whatever they wanted emphasize their participation in criminal and mafia structures.

Dragon tattoo designs

The fashion for a tattoo with a lizard is timeless. The image of a huge snake excites the human mind and amazes the imagination. Sketches of dragon tattoos make it easier to apply images to parts of the body that convey and reveal the secret meaning of the tattoo.

In this selection of sketches, you can choose any one that matches the spirit and mood of the future owner of the tattoo.

The dragon on the hand is an eternal image

The image of a winged reptile is often preferred by men. They are attracted to large patterns in color that cover the entire hand. Girls often wear a lizard tattoo as an exotic decoration without any meaning. But not always. Famous actress A. Jolie tattooed a dragon on her left forearm, wanting to show the strength of her maternal instinct.

World-famous personalities: both women and men get winged reptile tattoos (Jack Osbourne, Bruce Willis, Lenny Kravitz and others).

By getting a tattoo of a flying creature on their arm, men demonstrate their power, readiness to solve problems and deal with their enemies.

The owner of the dragon tattoo emphasizes his willingness to take any steps to protect congenial people. He values ​​such qualities as:

• loyalty;
• friendship;
• confidence;
• bravery;
• justice.

A tattoo of a reptile with wings on a man’s hand will tell you all about this. Guys who are followers of Eastern religions and martial arts often decorate their hands with dragons. Flying reptiles “help” young people do not leave the chosen path, achieve your goals.

Image of a winged lizard on the leg

Having decided to get a dragon tattoo, you need to choose the location of the image, and here you will have to think about your lifestyle, place of work or study. For example, many reputable companies do not allow employees to apply tattoos to visible areas of the body. Moreover, initially They do not hire people with tattoos if they are visible. The logical solution in this situation is a tattoo on the leg or a small image on the ankle or foot.

Young people or girls, for whom the dress code does not play any role, can tattoo a winged monster on any part of the body. Many people choose the zone abdomen, chest, lower back, even buttocks and private parts (mostly girls).

The dragon is a character from mythological stories that is most often found in tattoo images. There are many interpretations of the meaning of a dragon tattoo and options for its execution. This image was particularly influenced by Chinese culture.

What does a dragon tattoo mean?

Now there are two types of tattoos with this creature:

1. The first is a European dragon, which has wings and a body covered with scales. They are found in fairy tales of almost every nation and, as a rule, personify darkness, evil and the devil. They can be depicted as cartoon characters, fire-breathing monsters, in general, whatever your imagination allows.
2. The second dragon is made in the oriental style, in which the animal resembles a snake and its wings are missing. Such dragons symbolize the four elements: earth, fire, water and air. At the same time, they can be both kind and cruel.

Chinese culture is closely associated with dragons. The throne of the emperor of many dynasties was called the "dragon throne". During the Qing Dynasty, mythical creatures were depicted on the flag. A commoner could even be executed for wearing clothing with a dragon on it.

Chinese dragon tattoo

The distinctive features of the Chinese dragon are:

• presence of 117 scales on the body;
• four paws, each with five claws;
• the ability to fly despite the lack of wings;
• snake-like body.

The main factor due to which such tattoos have gained great popularity is the possibility of using imagination, using bold colors that make it easy to create a creative design.

In addition to being colorful, tattoos can be made in black, shades of gray, or a combination of black and red.

Since dragons are diverse, the background design can be just as diverse. Most often, a dragon drawing is accompanied by images of flames, medieval castles, mountains, flowers or clouds.

Regardless of the location and color of the tattoo, in general it means magic, strength, power, nobility. Most often, the dragon represents how we would like to appear in reality – independent and strong. The tattoo also reminds us of the relationship between man and the environment, since dragons are the lords of the four natural elements.

Dragon tattoo - meaning for girls

When choosing a tattoo design, you need to think about its location. Depending on where the image will be located, the optimal tattoo size is determined. In addition, the appearance of the dragon and its pose can tell a lot:

1. When applying a tattoo on the shoulder, you should remember that if a dragon lies calmly with its wings folded, then this indicates a state of mental balance.
2. If the dragon's body is directed upward, then this speaks of good goals and a positive attitude.
3. If the dragon is directed downward, then this indicates negative intentions.
4. The creature's spread wings and bare teeth indicate the aggression of the owner of the tattoo, her power and hostile attitude.

Dragon tattoo is the best option. The back is a so-called canvas on which you can create a simply stunning picture.

Girls most often prefer a colorful tattoo with an image of a dragon, made in a fairy-tale style, and less often resort to applying black and white designs.

Dragon tattoo has gained popularity all over the world. Each culture gives its own interpretation to the legendary winged creature. But in almost all interpretations there are similar features: dragons embody power, strength, longevity and wisdom. Dragon tattoos have been relevant for centuries.

The Celts chose the dragon as a symbol of struggle, and among the Chinese and Japanese the dragon was considered a divine being who was worshiped and built temples.

The dragon tattoo has gained particular popularity in recent years, after the release of Stieg Larsson’s trilogy “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and the film of the same name, based on the plot of the books. The main character is Lisbeth Salander, a complex and ambiguous hero, but undoubtedly she is the embodiment of a strong personality. The dragon in the book is used precisely as a symbol of the heroine’s inner strength. After the release of the books and the movie, many girls were inspired to get a dragon tattoo.

Meaning of Dragon Tattoo

The symbolism of the dragon is always associated with the manifestation of divine power, wisdom, and power, which can create and destroy. Dragons in legends often act as guardians of ancient treasures; in modern interpretation, this can be considered a metaphor. The dragon is the keeper of secret knowledge, not treasures and gold, but knowledge, skills, mastery that help people develop and be in harmony with the world.

Dragons often appear as monsters, fire-breathing creatures that attack people. Only the bravest and bravest warrior is able to defeat the dragon. In legends, warriors who defeated dragons gained eternal glory.

One of the most famous and popular legends about the dragon says that you need to be able to defeat the dragon within yourself. For many people, the test of fame and fortune becomes a serious and sometimes overwhelming burden. Therefore, a dragon tattoo in this case can mean victory over one’s own weaknesses and shortcomings.

Men's Dragon Tattoos - Dragon Tattoos for Men

Men very often choose dragon tattoos as their subject. The symbolism of strength, resilience, wisdom and invincible power is close to the masculine nature. Strong personalities strive even in their tattoos to give themselves even more motivation for excellence. The dragon is strong, but there are warriors who have defeated the dragon. People who choose a dragon tattoo with this very message tell themselves that you should never lose the person inside you, do not fall under the deceptive influence of limitless power, be strong, but remain realistic.

Men's dragon tattoos generally occupy large areas on the body. Often the tattoo is located on the back, arm, chest, and a little less often you can find a dragon tattoo on the leg. These can be colorful bright tattoos in the Japanese style, and Celtic script, and tribal and black and white tattoos.

Women's Dragon Tattoos - Dragon Tattoos for Girls

In addition to the heroine of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” the popularity of tattoos with mythical winged creatures was added to the series “Game of Thrones,” based on the stories of the books “A Song of Ice and Fire” by J. R. R. Martin. The dragons of one of the main characters are Daenerys Targaryen, the embodiment of her omnipotence, her main assistants and weapons. Women all over the world see in this beautiful fairy tale an allegory of female power, which helps to believe in themselves.

Girls often place tattoos with dragons on their back or arm. For small dragon designs, it is suitable, but a larger dragon can curl gracefully on the hip. Both color and black and white tattoos are equally loved and popular among women.

Dragon Tattoo in Realistic Style

Tattoos with Dragons can depict fantasy-style dragons that are familiar to everyone from films or computer games. Detailed, clear images of dragons have long been a favorite subject in the world of tattoos. The design may depict a dragon or individual parts of the image, such as the bright eyes of a dragon.

Dragon Tattoo in Tribal Style

Dragon tattoos are popular due to Celtic ornaments. The Celts revered dragons and considered them the embodiment of military might and power. Dragons were depicted on coats of arms, ornaments and amulets.

Dragon Tattoo in Japanese Style

Dragon Tattooin Japanese culture - a symbol of the sun, good luck and longevity. with three toes. According to legend, the dragon is considered a sacred guardian spirit and is revered by people.

Dragon Tattoo Sketches

Before choosing a design for a tattoo, decide on what part of the body you would like it to be placed. For example, an elongated pattern on the hand will look more harmonious, rather than a curled dragon on the thigh. Remember, the drawing should become part of your image, emphasize the beauty of your body, and help you communicate with the outside world. A correctly selected and high-quality sketch will never bore you and will be not only a beautiful attribute, but also a favorite talisman.