Japanese Tattoos: Japanese Dragon Tattoo Designs and Pics

Japanese dragon tattoos are hot! The dragon is definetly hands down one of the most beautiful and powerful of all the mythic beasts. The sheer beauty and power of these mythical beasts alone warrant there attention as tattoo designs. Then being combined with a long and rich history of tattooing as an art form such as in the Japanese culture and you have a winning combination.

If you are contemplating getting a Japanese dragon tattoo then you should spend a little time learning about the deep history and symbolism of the beautiful and mystical beast.

Japanese Dragon Tattoo Possibilities / Options

There are a wide vareity of different tattoo possibilities with a dragon. There are the issues of location, size and design to consider. The style and look of the dragon can often determine what the person might wish to represent. For example an evil looking dragon that is bearing his large teeth and sourrounded by flames and wrapping around a large sowrd would obvisouly represent power, strength and the warrior spirit. Where as a dragon that is depicted in a sceen above a large body of water or int he clouds in flight might represent peace and beauty. So the style, look and feel of the tattoo will ultimatly determine the meaning of the tattoo. Japanese Dragon Tattoo Placement

Since dragons are so prevelant through Japanese art, architecture, and literature there are many different even historically famous tattoo designs to choose from when contemplating getting a dragon tattoo. As far as location the most popular place is a very large full back piece. This allows for a lot of canvas space to truly depict the beauty and power of the mystical beast. You are not just locked into a large back piece however, as there are many different dragont attoo designs to work with and you can get a tattoo anywhere on your body that you want. Typically calves, shoulders and sleeve tattoos also work well for dragon tattoos. The choice is up to you and what you want and what you are looking to express int he design.

Dragons play a central role throughout Japan. In Japanese they are called Ryu or Tatsu. They are large serpent like beasts that are covered with scales. They typically live near large bodies of water and throughout history have come to be respected as a powerful creature. It is such a powerful creature that it is believed the first emprorer of Japan was decended from a dragon and therefore directly from a power god.

Like many of the east Asian countries dragons have a long tradition in Japanese culture, art, architecture and literature. There are numerous stories, temples and shrines where dragons play a central role.

Sculptures of dragons can be seen today throughout Japan typically in alters, temples and other places of woreship. One of the most famous of these temples is at Miyajima also known as The Isle Of The Temple. This has become a famous spot for pilgrims, travelers and toursits to come and pray to the dragons for good luck and good fortune. Dragons are also revered at the Sonsoji Temple in Asakusa Japan.

Each srping the dragon is taken and paraded around the grounds of the Sensoji temple. During this festival thousands of people come from all over Japan to drop coins into a wooden box as a donation and gift to the temple and an offering to the dragon in hopes that the dragon will give them good luck. This festival is done each spring to commemorate the finding of the gold Kannon, an image of the goddess of mercy. It is believed that in 628 AD two brothers were fishing int he Sumida river at the time they discovered this beautiful statue of the Goddess of Mercy Kanon. At the time they discovered this legend states that gold dragons flew up out of the river and in to the sky to celebrate the discovery.

In the Buddhist and even many Taoist traditions the dragon is seen as a mythical beast that represents the hardships that people will have to face and eventually overcome before enlightenment can be obtained.

Dragons are also featured throughout Japanese literary works. One of the first apperances of a dragon like beast is the beast named Yamata-No-Orochi. Yamata No Orochi is a eight headed serpent like beast that devours young women. In the story a man named Susanoo tricks the beast and gets him drunk on Sake and then is able to slay him. In later litrary works dragons are seen as much more benging creatures.

Of coruse all tattoos are about personal expression and therefore the meaning of any tattoo is really derived by the person wearing the tattoo. There are not any hard and fast rules that a tattoo must always represent just one thing. Instead each tattoo and tattoo design will mean something unique and different to the bearer of the tattoo. Therefore any discussion of the symbolism or meaning of a dragon tattoo must be taken in that light.

Typically Japanese dragons are not seen as the cunning and evil creature that they are represented as in Western culture. Instead in most Asian cultures Dragons do not breathe fire typically and are seen as more benevolent creatures. They are seen as very powerful and are definetly a symbol of strentgh and power. However, they also represent a perfect balance of yin and yang forces and are therefore believed to represent a reconcilliation of balancing of power. They therefore more typically represent a combination of power with wisdom.

What meaning you ascribe to your Japanese Dragon tattoo is really up to you as stated above there are no hard and fast roles. However, with in Japanese and most Asian cultures dragons are viewed as very benefical and a great source of power, luck, strentgh and wisdom all rolled into one incredible mythical animal.