One of the most symbolic tattoos is the Japanese dragon tattoos which are not only beautiful but also extremely colourful. Its origins are filled with myth and folklore and what also adds to the appeal of dragon tattoos is the mystery surrounding them. In ancient times the dragon was perceived by many; including the Egyptians, to be a source of wealth and good luck and also represented both good and evil.
Dragon tattoos also meant freedom and were thought by many to be a sign of 'being fearless' which even today are deemed very good qualities to possess.
The word 'Dragon' was sourced from 'draca' in the Greek language and actually means 'serpent'.
The Japanese dragon also shares the same meaning as the 'angel' which is guardianship, 'protecting those that were directly associated with it'. It was also associated with many other meanings, power, strength, wisdom and supernatural powers.
The Japanese dragon came in 6 different forms:
In an age of drought there was an all-powerful king dragon named Sui-Riu who was in control of rain.
One of the largest dragons was in fact 40 feet long and full of stripes, this was named Han-Riu.
One of the most misunderstood dragons was Ri-Riu who was in fact a rare breed of dragon who was known to have incredible eye sight.
One of the smallest dragons when compared to the others; was a brilliant red dragon called Ka-Riu.
One of the most favoured dragons by many is Faku-Riu, who was also the symbol of luck.
As Chinese mythology evolved so too did the dragons, and one of the most advanced was Hai-Riyo, otherwise known as 'Dragon Bird'.
The colours of dragons also have great significance and meaning. A black dragon indicates that it originated from old and wise dragons whereas green dragons which are normally smaller in size, represent life and earth. A gold dragon had many special attributes including kindness, wisdom and the ability to meet challenges head-on.
Dragons that are yellow in colour are fantastic companions but can be a little self-absorbed from time to time. They represented the east and the west was represented by blue dragons who were both forgiving and compassionate but could also be uncaring and lazy when it suited them.
There are many different varieties of dragon tattoos about these days that to choose a single design for yourself can be a real challenge. There are many free ways to get great ideas for dragon tattoos, the first is to search the internet and some of the great sites that offer free designs, but to really find unique and uncommon designs you need to maybe search your library and look into Japanese Dragon pictures, this could also be a great source for you to actually design your own dragon tattoos.
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