Dragon Tattoos – Symbol of Chinese Culture

Dragon tattoos are one of the popular tattoo designs. The dragon tattoo is regarded as a classic tattoo which is popular among men and women. They are quite popular tattoo designs as they exhibit the influence of Japanese and Chinese culture on western tattooing culture for nearly two centuries. The dragon represents four elements which include Earth, Fire, Wind and Water and also the four points of the compass which is East, West, North and South.

Dragons have been also termed as a symbol of Earth, Water, Underworld and Sky. It is regarded as neither culturally far ranging character whose bad temper is interpreted as neither good nor evil. Even the forces of nature are not regarded as human hearted since they represent the cycle of life and death which is followed by birth and renewal. It is said that natures nurtures and nature destroys and so does the dragon.

One of the common images of dragon resembles some sort of reptilian creature with lizard like features which dominates the image. The dragon tattoo images features the forked tongue which is common to reptilian creatures. They are regarded as a symbol of mischief, wisdom, good, evil, adventure and strength. The type of images that are chosen depends upon the personal choice of the person which several men choosing tattoo designs that are either red or green and several women choosing tattoo designs which are either blue, purple or pink in color. The colors are as important as the design of the dragon tattoos.

If you consider the Chinese mythology then dragon tattoos are regarded as ancestors of the Chinese people since these creatures were symbols of supernatural and imperial power. Fire spitting dragons have been associated with lightning water dragons which were regarded as guardians of lakes, streams, rivers and individual pools. Chinese and Japanese folk stories are filled with stories of creatures with special quests at the end of their journeys which were transformed into dragons but the fact is that dragons have grown out of human imagination.