Dragon Design Tattoos

Is it any wonder that dragon design tattoos are as trendy as they are? Dragons have been in literature for hundreds of years, and so it is only natural that people have wanted dragon tattoos. While dragons first appeared as frightening, horrorizing creatures; they have now often have a softer look and ‘feel’ about them. Because of this transition in in the way dragons are seen, no one should be amazed at the multitude of dragon design tattoos out there. With so many places to search for them, let’s explore how the dragon came into being, and the finest place to find dragon design tattoos.

Many believe that the dragon first showed up in Chinese totem poles as the various tribes emerged. Each part of the dragon in Chinese design is taken from a different body part of another animal…

  • Horns of a deer
  • Head of a camel
  • Eyes of a demon
  • Neck of a snake
  • Stomach of a clam
  • Scales of a carp fish
  • Claws of an eagle
  • Soles of a tiger
  • Ears of a cow

The Chinese are not the only people to have dragons in their ancient stories; there are many Asian cultures that have dragons in their lore, including Japan, Vietnam, and Korea. Each country has their own distinct take on the physical appearance of the dragon. Dragon design tattoos are extremely in style in the far east, but have become increasingly popular in the west in recent years.

The first westerner believed to get a dragon tattoo is King George V of England. As a young man in the British navy, George went to Japan and was fascinated with the culture, and even more so with the beautiful dragon tattoos he saw. When he returned to England, he proudly sported a dragon tattoo. After assending to the throne, and the public saw his tattoo, the popularity of Eastern tattoos grew vastly.

In the last few years, dragons have made their way into modern literature in fantasy books and movies, and so become more a creature in peoples’ minds. Books such as ‘Dragon Lance Chronicles’ and ‘Dragonriders of Pern’ to movies like ‘Harry Potter’ have dragons featured prominently in them and have spurred peoples imaginations; be they young or old. People who never would have thought about getting a tattoo are now getting dragon tattoos of every shape and size.

In choosing a dragon design tattoo for your own, you should do some research to decide what exactly you are wanting. Do you want some big badass mean looking tattoo? Are you looking for a sweet looking dragon with long eyelashes? Or are you looking for something inbetween? Be aware that you don’t have to stick to only one tattoo. You can pick and chose parts from different dragons depending on what parts of them you like the best and combine them. Do you like the wings of one, the head of another, the tail of yet another? Presto! You have a dragon design tattoo like no one else. Remember that a dragon tattoo will always represent loyalty, protection, and strength, even if you deside to chose a small, sleeping dragon tattoo!