Japanese Dragon Tattoos Meanings

Dragons have a fascination pf modern day men and women; they are both reminders of a dark and frightening past, and a testament to human beings' triumph over what they cannot understand. In many instances the dragon tattoos that we see today are appropriated from the Chinese culture which still has a living relationship with the dragon. You only have to attend one Chinese festival to realize how important the dragon is to the Chinese sense of who they are.

Time was when tattoos were associated with the Chinese mafia or with other forms of criminality. Now they have a much more widespread attraction and one that goes far beyond the borders of China itself. Today everyone seems to have fallen in love with the dragon and an increasing number of people are asking for dragon tattoos. The dragon is a symbol of mystery and legend it is a powerful symbol that has taken hold of hearts and minds in the East and the West. Thus the dragon is at the same time both symbolic of fear and worthy of worship. In the west dragons as fire breathing monsters has never been far from people's imagination. Children are still deliciously scared by dragon pictures and dragon stories. In China, however, the dragon has come to symbolize eastern culture. In the east, the mythical beast is seen as intelligent and benevolent and Chinese people are known in many parts of the world as the descendants of the dragon.

In China, the dragon is depicted in a number of different forms and the might of the beast is depicted in the horned dragon. People will have this tattoo if they want to be seen as someone who is worthy of fear and respect. The celestial dragon is revered by many because it is believed that it protects the Gods and holds up the heavens. When people have these pictures of the dragon tattooed on their body they are often giving out a message about themselves rather than the dragon.

Dragons are often seen as defenders of home and treasure and some of these designs are amongst the most colorful tattoos there are. Sometimes men will have a dragon right across their backs or extending round and down their arm. In the Shrek series of movies the dragon almost loses its teeth as it becomes the friend of adults and children alike. How you think about dragons will most likely be affected by the way you choose to have it tattooed on your body. The tiny dragon at the bottom of a woman's back may not make much impact - but a dragon that goes down and round the length of a man's arm might be saying something completely different about this powerful and mythical beast.

For more information on tattoo designs, including lower back tattoos, Japanese tattoos and more, visit YourTattoosGuide.com