A dragon is a mythological yet powerful creature which symbolizes courage, power and strength. In Western medieval times, dragons were believed to be protectors of the treasures in caves. Only those who can slay the dragon can obtain the treasures, even the king himself cannot access it unless he kill the dragon. Generally, the dragon is perceived as an evil, mean and fearful creature who hoards jewels and gold and breathes fire to anyone who comes near it.
In Japan, the dragon signifies supernatural powers that has incredible strength and hidden wisdom. The only way to past a dragon on a journey is to answer its riddles.
In China however, the dragon is a celebrated creature for its intelligence, goodwill and benevolence. They are common symbol of identity in China where they are seen as protectors of life, fertility and fortune. They believe that the dragons have the ability to change the world that whenever a natural disaster occurs, some Chinese think that the dragon has simply turned in its sleep.
With such powerful meaning, dragon tattoo art seem to be favored more by men than women. For them, it seem to represent their masculinity – that they are fearless, mighty and ready to tackle whatever comes in their way. Others regard it as a symbol to attain good fortune, just like how its regarded in the Eastern culture.
Dragon tattoo art has great artistic appeal when inked on large areas of the body such as the arm, shoulder blade, chest and rib cage. They look powerful and strong whether inked in colors or plain black ink. They can also be represented with tribal lines or Celtic art. For those wanting it to have asian dragon tattoos, the creature is usually tattooed red which stands for wealth, prosperity and good luck.
