What Does A Dragon Tattoo Represent?

What Does A Dragon Tattoo Represent

Chinese Dragon Tattoo Meaning – For the Chinese, the dragon is arguably the most important symbol of their culture. Chinese dragon tattoos can be in color, made with black ink, or made with black ink, and a little bit of color used as an accent such as adding red flames in the background. When the color is used as an accent, it is typically red, purple, or blue. Also, a dragon aimed toward the sky is the way it should be: dragons aimed downward in a tattoo are bad omens. The Chinese dragon tattoo has many meanings including good luck, protection, wisdom, peace, strength, and power. Getting Chinese dragon tattoos can help you enhance any of these skills or properties in your life. Perhaps the most important part of Chinese tattoos is their meaning of good luck, which is celebrated throughout Chinese history as well as in their culture today. The Chinese also include two of our most popular meanings for the dragon: power and strength. These two meanings do not seem that different at first glance, but they differ greatly. To the Chinese, a powerful dragon tattoo is one that shows that you have great control over others (in a positive way) because of your ability to be a great leader. Strength in a dragon tattoo refers to the greatness of being centered enough in life to succeed in an upward trajectory and never lose focus on your goals.

What is the meaning behind a dragon tattoo?

Deciphering the meaning of dragon tattoos is no walk in the park given how rich and complex the symbolism of this creature is. Still, we’ll give it our best shot! The dragon has always had a very strong symbolic power in most countries and cultures. Though its representation varies, some of its characteristics are universal.

  • In general dragons (and dragon tattoos) are associated with strength, wisdom, prosperity, good luck as well as masculinity;
  • Yeah, that’s quite a long and generic list but don’t worry, we’re about to get more specific;

Since dragon tattoos come in a wide variety of styles, we have selected the most common designs to explore their meaning in details.

What does a red dragon tattoo symbolize?

The Meaning Of Red Dragon Tattoos – Every color has a different meaning, and when combined with a powerful mythological creature like a dragon, it can amplify its’ importance. Red is a color that signifies passion, strength, and love. Red dragon tattoos are typically Chinese or tribal-style tattoos.

Are dragon tattoos lucky?

In Chinese culture, the dragon is a lucky symbol. Unlike in Western traditions, they’re associated with water – storms, seas, the river, and lakes. They are also a symbol of nobility and associated with emperors. The Chinese dragon art style is fluid, like water.

What does a Japanese dragon tattoo symbolize?

Ryu Tattoo – Japanese Dragon Tattoo This is the most popular Japanese tattoo design. The Japanese dragon symbolizes strength, wisdom, blessing, and the force of good. The symbolism stems from the traditional belief that dragons can manipulate elements for the benefit of the people and the good in this world.

Are dragon tattoos evil?

The Meanings of Dragon Tattoo Colors – Every color has its own meaning. When connected to a dragon, this color takes shape into a specific meaning meant for a dragon tattoo. These meanings can be more detailed depending on the style of the dragon tattoo and its design. Let’s take a look at some colorful dragon tattoos and their meanings:

  • Red Dragon Tattoo Meaning

A red dragon tattoo is typical of the tribal tattoo style as well as the Chinese style of tattoos though it can be used in practically any style. It can symbolize strength because the color red symbolizes toughness. Another reason this is a great color dragon tattoo to get is that it symbolizes power. Power in a red dragon tattoo represents not only the strength of the dragon but also its magical powers. Another meaning of this color of dragon tattoo is individuality. Wearing this tattoo means that not only are you unique enough to have a red dragon tattoo but this tattoo will give you magical help to become more apart from others in a way that’s healthy. The red dragon is said to represent strength and a vigorous nature. A red dragon tattoo is a popular choice due to the way its distinctive color stands out against black and grey tattoos. The tattoo will help you not rely on others as much and find your own way.

  • Golden Dragon Tattoo Meaning

There’s a reason that the golden dragon is gold. It is the king of all dragons, because not only does it represent all life on Earth, but for the Chinese, it symbolizes people’s greatest traits. It represents wealth, wisdom, and good health. These are seen as traits given to someone who has chosen the correct path in life and who is a good person. Someone would get a golden dragon tattoo if they feel they deserve these things and are on the right path. There’s another reason this is the king of all dragon colors. The golden dragon for the Chinese would represent the emperor himself and therefore was a highly respected symbol. This is also part of why the golden dragon symbolizes wealth (emperors are rich) but for other cultures as well as the Chinese this tattoo symbolizes great prosperity because the color gold itself is (obviously) the color of gold.

  • Blue Dragon Tattoo Meaning

Descended from 800-year-old blue-gold dragons, blue dragons in Japanese folklore are guardians of the Eastern signs of the Japanese Zodiac and symbolize the approaching spring. They have been used to represent leadership and are seen as gentle and forgiving in nature. Japanese blue dragon tattoos are often accompanied by flower tattoos due to their links with nature. The blue dragon is related to certain astrological symbols, representing Leo, Aries, and Sagittarius. This would be a great tattoo for someone born under these signs. These astrological symbols also dictate much of the meaning behind the blue dragon. For example, The Sagittarius sign often means that someone is highly independent. You may want to get a blue dragon tattoo if you are a lone wolf or someone who likes to do things themselves. A part of being an Aries is being open-minded, which is the next meaning the blue dragon symbolizes. This tattoo can mean that you are not only a free-spirited individual but that you have an open mind to matters of religion, politics, and others’ suffering (you may be an empath). Other meanings of the blue dragon tattoo are generosity in the form of giving to others, creativity, or if you are someone who comes up with creative solutions to problems.

  • Green Dragon Tattoo Meaning
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Green dragons are often seen as a branch between heaven and Earth since green is a mix of blue and yellow and is in between being a warm and cool color. For that reason, they can symbolize life and death and the relationship between the two, causing a green dragon tattoo to mean you understand the life cycle or that you believe in life beyond the one we live on Earth. Along the same lines, this tattoo is also a major symbol of spring, meaning the regeneration of life. A green dragon tattoo would be a great tattoo to get for someone who has matured and grown greatly throughout their life. It also symbolizes that you have learned an important lesson and have become a new person because of it.

  • Black Dragon Tattoo Meaning

Apart from being a popular color for a tattoo style, a black dragon tattoo also has a significant meaning. Since dragons represent good and evil, yin and yang, a black dragon tattoo can symbolize the dark side of the world which is more reserved and even feared. This can either show that you are a more quiet and intelligent person, or mean something completely different in that you are someone who is tough and not to be messed with. Black dragons also mean that you know someone who is old and wise, and that person could be you yourself. You could get a black dragon tattoo to represent someone in your life who you hold dear and who has taught you a lot of lessons. Or, you could get one to mean that you feel being wise is the ultimate goal in life.

  • Purple Dragon Tattoo Meaning

A purple dragon has the power to represent royalty for many cultures. A purple dragon tattoo can therefore symbolize that you have tendencies to be powerful and ‘rule’ over others with great kindness and respect. This would be a great tattoo for someone who is a leader and wants to make a powerful and amazing change in this world. Another meaning of a purple dragon tattoo is, for the Chinese, heaven. A purple dragon tattoo can represent the power and strength of the Gods/God and can represent your hope that in your belief of heaven some deity will guide you there.

Is a dragon tattoo good?

While all dragons look powerful, majestic, and mystical, they can be perceived as both good and evil, masculine and feminine, and are linked to both fire and water. Depending on the art style, size, and color, a dragon tattoo can be a symbol of fearlessness, rage, passion, or wisdom.

What does a black dragon symbolize?

Black Dragon – Most people associate the black dragon with vengeance. Thus, it’s often linked to catastrophes like storms and floods. Black dragons traditionally symbolize vengeance.

What does a dragon tattoo mean on a man?

Dragon tattoos for men can symbolize greed, power, duality, intellect, potential, dominion, nonconformity, wisdom and unpredictability.

What does a blue dragon represent?

Blue and Green Dragons – In Chinese culture, blue and green are colors representing nature, health, healing, peace, and growth. A blue/green dragon symbolizes the approaching of spring, new life, and plant growth.

What tattoos should you not get?

What tattoo represents strength?

Lotus/Floral Tattoo Design – As mentioned earlier, the lotus flower is an ultimate symbol of personal emotional, and physical strength. The lotus design is suitable for both men and women and represents power, strength, endurance, and one’s ability to overcome life’s struggles.

The design is incredibly beautiful, and the tattoo can be either small or big, simple or intricate. Some people tend to chose wonderful color schemes for their lotus tattoo, while others go with a more minimalistic approach.

Either way, you cannot go wrong with a lotus design.

  • Tattoo highlights – just like with any design, the lotus tattoo can be either less or more expensive depending on the size, intricacy of the design, and the choice of color. Smaller designs can cost you up to  $800 , while larger lotus tattoos with intricate design can cost up to  $2,500.
  • Best body placement – forearm, wrist, ankle, foot, middle of the chest, side of the neck, the bottom of the neck, lower back, shoulder area, etc.

Other Design Recommendations .

Do tattoos bring Badluck?

666 is known as the ‘number of the beast’ and certain tattoo artists believe that getting the same tattooed anywhere on your body may bring bad luck or attract negative energies.

Why do Asians get dragon tattoos?

What is the meaning of the Chinese Dragon Tattoo? – East Asian dragons (commonly known as Chinese dragons) carry a number of possible meanings. While they are most often symbols of wisdom, power, and good luck, the meaning of Chinese dragon tattoos depends on the style and the wearer. Other common meanings include:

  • Strength
  • Prosperity
  • Longevity
  • Yang
  • Masculinity
  • Water
  • Transformation

In ancient China, dragons were loved and worshiped as gods. They were water-deities said to control rains and water – essential to early agricultural societies. During the wet growing seasons they were celebrated. During floods and storms the people would burn incense and offer food to appease them. In Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism they were rainmakers and power sources.

What colors are offensive in Japan?

Black (Kuro) – What Does A Dragon Tattoo Represent Black represents a powerful and tough image, as you can see the black belt in Judo and Karate athletes. It also represents evil and destruction, as Japanese often describes (same as the West), evil people have a “black heart”. Especially when used alone, black represents mourning, and is often worn to funerals. However, with the growing popularity of Western conceptions of black-tie events, it has been a clot of formality too.

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What’s the difference between a Chinese dragon and a Japanese dragon?

. photonewman/iStock/Getty Images Chinese dragons and Japanese dragons are very similar, probably because much of Japan’s dragon mythology derives from China. The primary difference between the two is that Japanese dragons usually have three toes on each foot while Chinese dragons most often have four.

What does a dragon tattoo mean on a man?

Dragon tattoos for men can symbolize greed, power, duality, intellect, potential, dominion, nonconformity, wisdom and unpredictability.

What color dragon is the strongest?

Primary types [ edit ] –

The table below shows the five main Chromatic dragons

Name Characteristics Notes
Red dragon
  • Breath weapon: Cone of fire
  • Habitat: Mountains or hilly plains
  • Diet: Anything; they claim that female humans and young elves taste best
  • Preferred Treasure: Anything with monetary value
  • Alignment: Chaotic Evil
  • Image: Wizards. com image
  • Stats: OGL stats
Red dragons are the largest and most powerful of the classic chromatic dragons. They are large with a wide wingspan. They have two swept back horns on their heads. They smell of smoke and sulphur. The eggs of a red dragon must be kept in open flame at all times while incubating. Incubation takes approximately 660 days. After the eggs are laid, the younger of the two parents remains behind to guard the eggs and keep the nest of flames burning.

Once they hatch, the wyrmlings are left to fend for themselves. A red wyrmling is roughly human-sized at hatching and dangerous. They are capable of breathing fire, and revel in wreaking destruction and havoc on almost anything that moves.

The latter trait is carried fully into adulthood. They regard all other Chromatic dragons as inferiors, with the amount of disdain proportional to the variety’s general power level. All other chromatic dragons that red dragons encounter are either killed, driven away, or bullied into servitude depending on the red dragon’s mood and personality, with the except of white dragons who are allowed to leave since red dragons do not consider them worth the effort to kill.

  1. Due to their choice of living space, they cross paths with many of the metallic dragons , most notably the silver dragons who are their worst enemies, and holding the greatest disdain for copper dragons whom they clash with them often;

Red dragons have an eye for value, and can determine the monetary worth of any object at a glance. The gaining and keeping of treasure is the focus of a red dragon’s adult life, and they tend to amass incredible hoards with amazing rapidity. At any given moment, a red dragon will be able to tell the precise monetary value of all the objects in its hoard, down to the last fraction of a coin.

Red dragons prefer to make their homes inside active volcanoes. If a volcano is not available, they will reside in any mountain, provided that it has a good ledge from which the dragon can survey its territory.

A red dragon’s lair may have only one entrance, high above ground level. The entrance leads to a narrow tunnel, which drops off into a pit. At the bottom of the pit lies a pool of water, surrounded by several chambers. One is the dragon’s sleeping quarters, another contains its hoard.

Red dragons are very dangerous in combat. Proficient in magic, they are also fast in the air, but clumsy, so prefer to fight on the ground. They spend years designing battle strategies, and wait until the best moment to call upon them.

Their blasts of fire end most battles before they begin. As a result, red dragons use their powerful breath weapons first, followed by physical strikes, then magical attacks. Red dragons may hoard women and children in their lairs along with their wealth. [33]

Blue dragon
  • Breath weapon: Line of lightning
  • Habitat: Sandy deserts or coastal areas
  • Diet: Meat from large animals such as camels, snakes, lizards, and also plants
  • Preferred Treasure: Sapphires
  • Alignment: Lawful Evil
  • Image: Wizards. com image
  • Stats: OGL stats
Blue dragons are the second most powerful of the classic chromatic dragons. They have single large horns protruding from their heads [32] and large, frilled ears. The tail is thick and bumpy. The wings are more pronounced than most other species. They smell like ozone or sand. They are more likely to be mocking and manipulative than outrightly cruel or murderous to ‘lesser’ creatures, aided by their natural talents for hallucination.

  1. In some genres they have the ‘power of persuasion’ over weaker minds;
  2. They sometimes use this to persuade the chieftains of villages to sacrifice young girls to them;
  3. David M;
  4. Ewalt described ancient red dragons’ place in the game as “There are few beasts more powerful”;

They trick desert travelers into drinking sand or going miles out of their way. Blue dragons are mostly carnivorous though they will eat plants on occasion. Camels are the preferred food. They are enemies of brass dragons. Blue dragons are unusual for chromatics in that they keep fairly well-ordered, hierarchical societies.

Despite their evil nature, they are excellent parents to their young, and rarely leave their eggs unattended. Blue dragon eggs must be buried in warm sand to incubate. Blue wyrmlings are quick to taunt any other creature.

They hunt small desert creatures for food. The typical blue dragon lair is dug into desert rock formations with two entrances: one at ground level, hidden by the sand, and one opening onto a high ledge on which it can perch and survey its territory. Each lair also has a cavern with a pool of water and sandy beach, which its inhabitant will use for drinking and relaxation.

  • The blue dragon excels at aerial combat;
  • They discharge lightning at aerial foes, or at creatures on the ground;
  • They are powerful at spell craft and adept at burrowing in sand;
  • They often lie in wait just below the surface of the desert for prey;

When they are so burrowed, their large horns can be mistaken for pointed desert rocks.

Green dragon
  • Breath weapon: Cloud of chlorine gas (changed to cone of acidic mist in Edition 3. 5)
  • Habitat: Forests with tall trees
  • Diet: Small humanoids such as gnomes are preferred, but prize elves and sprites most. Will eat any animal if hungry.
  • Preferred Treasure: Emeralds, artwork, and sculptures
  • Alignment: Lawful Evil
  • Image: Wizards. com image
  • Stats: OGL stats
Green dragons are the third most powerful of the classic chromatic dragons. They have a large, waving crest or fin that starts at the dragon’s nose and runs the length of the dragon’s body. They also have long, slender forked tongues and smell like chlorine gas. They are highly adept at magic. Green dragons are reasonably good parents, with both mother and father typically staying close to their eggs while they are incubating.

Females either keep their eggs in a solution of acid or bury them in leaves moistened with rainwater. The green wyrmling may be mistaken for a black, due to their nearly black scales. As the wyrmling matures, its scales lighten in color.

The wyrmlings typically stay with both parents until they reach adulthood (approximately 100 years). A green dragon lair will be a complex of caves and tunnels, with its main entrance hidden behind a waterfall. The dragons prefer caves high up on a cliff.

  1. The territories of Green and Black dragons frequently overlap, but as greens are more powerful, they typically hold the upper hand;
  2. Greens may allow a Black dragon to remain in their forest, as long as the lesser dragon remains in the swamps;

Green dragons revel in combat, and will often attack for no apparent reason. They are territorial, and may view any intrusion into their domain as an affront. They are cunning and duplicitous foes, and love to double-cross. A traveler who stumbles into a green dragon’s territory may be able to bribe the dragon for safe passage, but the dragon may pretend to agree and then attack the unsuspecting offender once their guard is down.

Black dragon
  • Breath weapon: Line of acid
  • Habitat: Boggy swamps
  • Diet: Fish, mollusks, aquatic creatures, some red meat from terrestrial animals
  • Preferred Treasure: Gold coins
  • Alignment: Chaotic Evil
  • Image: Wizards. com image
Black dragons are the most vile-tempered and cruel of all chromatic dragons, apart from their love of bargaining. Black dragons are distinguished by their horns, which protrude from the sides of their heads and wrap around, projecting forward, a longer body and thinner tail. [32] A large frill adorns the upper part of the neck. They smell like rotting vegetation and foul water, or like the powerful acid they can breathe.

  • Though aggressive, green dragons prefer to use magic before attacking physically;
  • Black dragons are fierce hunters that will normally attack from the water;
  • They will often prey on fish, crabs, birds, turtles, crocodiles, lizardfolk, chuuls, hydras, and green dragons that are smaller and younger than they are;

Their enemies include green dragons and swamp landwyrms. Black dragons are not noted as good parents, relying more upon disguise and hiding to protect their eggs than upon guarding them. Black dragon eggs must be submerged in strong acid while incubating.

Their wyrmlings (babies) are exceptionally cruel with insatiable appetites for nearly anything organic. As a black dragon matures, its scales gradually grow lighter. The oldest black dragons appear almost purple in color; hence the name of Cormyr ‘s Purple Dragon knights stems from the legend of the great black dragon Thauglor, who once dominated the area encompassed by the present kingdom.

A black dragon typically lairs in a large cave or underground chamber next to a swamp or murky pond. Their lairs always have two entrances: one underwater through the adjacent swamp/pond, and one above-ground, disguised amidst the undergrowth. In combat, black dragons prefer ambushes to straightforward fighting.

White dragon
  • Breath weapon: Cone of cold
  • Habitat: Arctic mountains
  • Diet: Anything that moves, but must be frozen first
  • Preferred Treasure: Diamonds
  • Alignment: Chaotic Evil
  • Image: Wizards. com image
  • Stats: OGL stats
White dragons are the weakest and the most feral of the classic chromatic dragons. Though dimmer than other dragons, they are still powerful enough to overwhelm most humans and have good long-term memories. Their heads and necks blend seamlessly into one another, and their wings are frayed along the edges. They have a flap of skin (dewlap) lined with spines under their chins.

They are vicious and ruthless adversaries, and their acidic bile can easily work its way under the heaviest armor. Their heavily wooded habitats prevent them from flying very high in combat. They have a high crest atop a streamlined head and a crisp, vaguely chemical odor.

White dragon eggs must be buried in snow or encased in ice to incubate. The parents do not tend or protect the eggs in any way, although they lay them near their lairs. A newly hatched white wyrmling has clear scales, which become white as the dragon matures.

  1. They are expected to survive on their own after hatching, although some white dragon parents will permit their young to live in their lair until they reach adulthood;
  2. Adult white dragons have several abilities well suited to their arctic habitat;

They can climb ice cliffs with ease, fly high and fast, and are exceptional swimmers. They love to swim in cold water. Much of their diet consists of aquatic creatures. White dragons are always hungry, and tend to become more savage as they mature. Knowing that they are the smallest and weakest of dragons, many whites harbor inferiority complexes.

  • They take any opportunity to bully beings such as giants and younger dragons of other species;
  • White dragons lair in ice caves dug into mountains;
  • Their lairs contain many more tunnels and chambers than those of other chromatic dragons;

More powerful white dragons may turn a large iceberg into a floating lair. Such lairs have an underwater entrance as well as one to the open air. White dragons are not strong combatants compared to other dragons. Their icy breath can freeze a foe solid. They avoid fights with more powerful dragons, but will take any opportunity to take their frustrations out on ‘lesser’ creatures.

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What do different colored dragons mean?

Blue and Green Dragons – In Chinese culture, blue and green are colors representing nature, health, healing, peace, and growth. A blue/green dragon symbolizes the approaching of spring, new life, and plant growth.

What does a black dragon symbolize?

Black Dragon – Most people associate the black dragon with vengeance. Thus, it’s often linked to catastrophes like storms and floods. Black dragons traditionally symbolize vengeance.