Dragon Tattoo Meanings From Around The World
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Image courtesy of Andy K. @ Unsplash.com
Want to learn about different dragon tattoo meanings? We’ve got your covered!
Ask almost anybody and they’ll probably tell you that they think dragons are pretty cool. I mean, how can you not? Massive lizard creatures that can fly around, breathe fire, and destroy an entire village? Sign me up, right?
And all of that is pretty much why dragon tattoos have been popular since the since the tattoo industry first began.
Obviously, dragons aren’t real. Yes, they’re based on the encounters that ancient humans had with large lizards and other undocumented beasts from the time. But to this day, dinosaur bones are the closest thing we’ve ever found to evidence that dragons have ever existed.
But even if they’re not real, there’s no denying that dragon tattoos can be pretty bad ass, at least in my opinion.
They can also be done to suit a ton of different tattoo styles, look great as simple minimalist designs or massive life-size pieces, and carry a great deal of deep meaning and ancient symbolism, all of which makes them perfect for a great tattoo design.
In this article we’re going to explore the many meanings of dragon tattoos and their cultural significance around the world, to help you decide if a dragon tattoo is for you.
Common Dragon Tattoos Meanings
Dragons are often depicted as mean, angry or evil creature. They’re usually shown towering over castles, capturing innocent princesses, crushing city walls, breathing fire and killing entire villages in minutes.
But dragons aren’t always bad creatures.
In fact in many cultures, as you’ll see below, dragons are auspicious creatures, guardians of sacred knowledge and bringers of good luck, fortune and prosperity.
So yes, dragon tattoos can mean violence, terror and destruction. But you can also get a dragon tattoo that means something positive as well.
Anyway let’s get to the meaning of dragon tattoos across different cultures from around the world.
Chinese Dragon Tattoos
Chinese-style dragons are usually done with brighter and more vibrant colors compared to Japanese dragons or dragon tattoo from other cultures. But their bodies, depictions and scenes are usually quite similar.
In Ancient China dragons were seen as harbingers of prosperous weather. Seeing one sometimes meant that rain was coming and that the harvest would be abundant.
Therefore Chinese dragon often symbolize good fortune, luck, wisdom and prosperity. But they can also be used to represent power, wealth, strength.
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com
Celtic Dragon Tattoos
This might come as a surprise to some, but dragons have also been a popular theme in Celtic mythology for hundreds of years. That’s right, right alongside shamrocks, leprechauns, and pots of gold, Irish, Welsh, and Scottish cultures have spread legends about dragon-like creatures.
Celtic dragon tattoos are often done as simple, almost tribal looking designs. They’re usually simpler and more minimalist. But then they’re be paired with other Celtic symbols like shamrocks, Celtic crosses or pots of gold.
You’ll find many similar meanings to Asian dragons but Celtic dragons are often associated with wisdom, protection, change and one’s own heritage.
Tribal Dragons
Tribal dragons use a more minimalist design, with bold shapes, curved lines and simple design elements. You’ll see tribal tattoos in cultures like Native North American, South American, Samoan and other South Asian cultures.
Like many other culture, tribal tattoos can represent freedom, strength, courage, resilience and many other personal attributes.
Custom Dragon Tattoo Design – Common Dragon Depictions
Want a red dragon from Japanese mythology? Like the idea of a fire breathing European dragon fighting an armored knight? Maybe you want a multi headed hydra from Greek mythology thrashing in the high-seas?
When it comes to designing a meaningful dragon tattoo, the possibilities are endless. Here are a few ideas on how you might depict dragons.
- – A fire breathing dragon towering over a demolished medieval castle
- – Japanese dragon tattoo done with bold black work with only a few brighter colors to make the design pop
- – Minimalist dragon tattoos that can be accommodated to fit on smaller body parts
- – Two dragons flying in a circle to and representing the yin-yang
- – Tribal dragon tattoo half sleeve done in a muted color palette
- – Dragon leg tattoo that leaves the rest of the dragon up to your imagination
- – Dragon tattoo alongside other symbols from Chinese culture or Japanese culture
Still having trouble coming up with a style or design for your ink fix?
You can talk to an artist or try our AI ink maker, which is as easy to use as typing in a few lines of text, describing the type of tattoo that you want and then our AI takes it from there. Within seconds it will generate a cool, visually impressive dragon tattoo design, created just for you.
Image courtesy of Jordan Andrews @ Unsplash.com
FAQs – Dragon Tattoo Meaning
Now let’s take a look at some of the most common questions we get from our readers about dragon tattoos.
Is a dragon tattoo good or bad?
Neither… the meaning of a dragon tattoo is only about what it means to you personally. Dragons themselves can carry all sorts of different symbolism, from strength and power, wisdom or spiritual protection. It’s your body and your tattoo. So only you can decide if you want your dragon tattoo to be “good” or “bad.”
What style and placement should I choose for a dragon tattoo?
Tattoos are permanent, aside from tattoo removal. So it’s important to put some serious thought into what you want for your design and the tattoo placement you choose. You can also check out our AI tattoo generator to help you explore different dragon themes, tattoo ideas or styles that you might find suitable for your next ink fix. But ultimately, it’s a very personal choice as to which style you choose and where you have it placed on your body.
