Temporary Tattoo Stencils Ideas and Designs

The History Of The Dragons And Why Dragon Tattoos Are So Popular

According to the Webster-Merriam Dictionary, the word dragon is Middle English, from Anglo-French dragun, from Latin dracon.

The definition of dragon is: A mythical animal usually represented as a monstrous winged and scaly serpent with a crested head and enormous claws.
Or someone who is formidable

The many depictions of dragons are incredibly diverse and complex. No other creature in mythology has appeared in so many cultures from such remote parts of the world!

Many of us think of dragons as a terrifying beast. However, the Eastern dragons are portrayed as good, kind, ancient and intelligent. The Asian Dragons have the most recorded history in the world, especially in China going back thousands of years.

The Difference between the Eastern Dragons:

Chinese dragons have all five toes. The Chinese believe that all dragons began from China. They believed that as the dragons flew south, they began to lose their toes. The farther the dragons flew, the more toes they lost. So, Korean dragons have four toes, and Japanese dragons have three.

Korean dragons have four toes. The Koreans believe that when the dragons leave Korea and go north to China, they begin to gain toes. When the dragons leave Korea and go north to Japan, they begin to lose toes.

Japanese dragons have three toes. The Japanese thought all dragons originated from Japan. They also believed that when the dragons leave Japan and head north, they gain toes. The farther the dragons went, the more toes they gained. This is why the other dragons have more toes. The Japanese believed the breath of dragons could turn into clouds, which could produce rain.

But here’s the kicker, unlike most types of dragon, most of the Eastern Dragons have no wings!

The Western Dragon

The Western dragons or medieval dragons have a more ferocious and primitive appearance. They often look like giant lizards with long tails and a pair of wings. While the dragons are thought of as calculating and thoughtful monsters, they have also been viewed as mindless beasts.

We think of dragons as having talons, fangs, breathing fire, scaly skins, and red eyes in our drawings and paintings. The Western Dragons were also known to have huge hoards of gold and jewels hidden in their lairs.

Early Christianity condemned the ancient, benevolent and malevolent serpent deities. As a matter of fact, in Christian art, the dragon is a symbol of the pagan religion and was often drawn as overpowered by the spirit of the holy figures of Christianity.

The Vikings had figures of dragons on the prow of their boats. The dragons on the ships were believed to bestow sharp eyesight and craftiness to the Viking warriors. The Welsh flag has a red dragon on it and the dragon is their national symbol.

Why are Dragon Tattoos so popular today?

Dragons are a classic choice for a tattoo design and they are one of the more popular mythological creatures picked for inking.

Dragons are depicted as powerful, wise and free. Their legend is always cloaked in magic and mythical realm. They come from the tops of sacred Japanese mountains and the bottom of the deepest seas around Greece.

Dragons have been drawn in a wide variety of forms because of their popular appeal. Today’s tattoo designers have taken the art of the dragon to amazing new levels. Whether you want a traditional dragon tattoo or one with a cutting-edge, modern look you will find an incredible gallery of amazing images to choose from.

Tattoo artists have paid extra attention to creating images of dragons because they look great on the skin. They can be in color, or black & white. Dragon tattoos can wrap around the body and flatter the contours of the body. Dragon tattoos can be designed as tribal, Celtic or jade designs. The dragon tattoo may appear with wings or fire breathing or not.

Ancient Dragon lore and illustrations have inspired many of us to select a dragon tattoo because that design represents how we feel about ourselves — powerful, ferocious, and free…

By: Becky McClure  Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com  Becky McClure believes that the most important word after you make the decision to get inked is ‘Patience!’ Pick the right tattoo design. Pick the right location on you. And pick the best artist you can find for your new body art.   www.dream-tattoo-design.com

Here are more articles on the fascinating world of dragon tattoos.

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Tribal Tattoos Make a Good Choice of Body Art  There are different tribal tattoo designs but Scorpio, phoenix and dragon are common designs, so why not try out something new this time. 

Girl Tattoos: Popular Tattoo Designs for Girls   There are a lot of different dragons to choose from, including the mythical dragon and ancient Chinese dragon. Dragons are great on the chest for males and the back for females.

Dragon Tattoo Designs  Among all the creatures and beasts tied to myth and fantastical belief, dragon tattoo designs are by far the greatest in demand. Winged or unwinged, Eastern or Western, feared or revered.

Japanese Tattoos: The Case for Dragon Tattoo Designs  Dragon tattoo designs are a creature much revered. On one hand, the Eastern dragon is understood to represent the characteristics of courage, honor, and strength. Seen as divine protector.

8 Most Popular Tattoo Designs Revealed   Dragon tattoos come in two main forms: the Eastern dragon and the Western dragon. The Eastern dragon is a protective ally. It brings water, signals fertility and ensures protection.

Tattoo Designs – Dragon Tattoo Design   From eastern to western these majestic creatures symbolizes different meanings to different races. That’s why Dragon designs either done in black ink or in vibrant colored pigments.

Chinese Symbol Dragon  Chinese dragon tattoos have always been and will always be tremendously popular. At one time, they were considered to be the realms of the mafia and other criminals.

Japanese Tattoos  So you’ve decided that you want a Japanese tattoo. Congratulations. You’ve chosen a style of body art that’s rich with symbolism and has links to ancient.   

Popularity: 6% [?]

Top Tattoo Designs Of All Time

Contrary to the time when it used to be exclusively connected with hoodlums, prisoners, and the mafia, tattoo art is all the rage these days. Tattoo enthusiasts can be practically anyone — hardcore bikers, musicians, athletes, celebrities, and even the everyday folk you pass by on the street. Highly popular in any part of the globe and with all age groups, tattoos are one of the top search items on the Internet today. According to a 2006 survey, 36 percent of people from 18 to 25 years old and 40 percent of those ranging from 26 to 40 years old have at least one tattoo.

Perhaps the main reason why tattoos are so in demand today is because people feel the need to better distinguish themselves among the ballooning six billion population of the world. Tattoos are artistic manifestations of our identity. Inked on skin, they allow others to see how we perceive ourselves and what we value in our lives without having to explain at all. Consequently, looking for the right tattoo design all boils down to the meaning and symbolism it offers to the holder.

All things considered, isn’t it interesting to find out how tattoo bearers view themselves and what tattoo designs and symbolisms that appeal the most to them?

The following are the most sought after tattoo designs of all time and their brief general meanings:

Birds: Eagles are the most popular tattoo designs, symbolizing patriotism, might, and freedom. Hummingbirds and doves are also in demand, standing for love charm and peace, respectively.

Dragons: Arguably the most popular mythical figures of all time, dragon tattoos are general statements of strength and power. However, their specialized meanings will differ depending on whether you choose an Eastern or Western dragon design.

Skulls: Skulls have long been a symbol of pirates and stood for rebellion. Though mostly perceived as bad omens and symbols of death, skulls also represent change.

Hearts: They usually stand for togetherness and love, but their meanings vary depending on representation and the sentiments of the bearer.

Butterflies: These winged insects are sought after by mostly women. Fragile and beautiful, butterflies are symbols of freedom and rebirth.

Tribal Symbols: They actually mean something. But just as with Asian symbols, exactly what they mean can be a bit tricky. Traditional and primitive, these forms come from all sorts of different tribes and it’s hard to tell just by looking at them. These obscure but striking looks are not recommended for those who may become annoyed by constant questions about the meaning behind the body art.

Asian symbols: Chinese and Japanese characters are massive favorites among American tattoo buffs. However, translation can be more than a little difficult at times, so you have to extra careful.

Flowers: Singled out by women, flower tattoos symbolize different things, depending on the flower used. Roses stand for love; daisies denote innocence; buttercups represent riches, while sunflowers symbolize enchantment.

Religious Symbols: Though some think it’s blasphemous, tattoo art used to be part of religious ceremonies in certain ancient cultures. That’s why it comes as no surprise that religious symbols are second on the list.

Words: They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but tattoo lettering is still the most popularly-requested design around the world. Names of loved ones, significant phrases of meaningful quotes as tattoo designs are also a big trend.

By: Romeo Rodriguez     Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com   Romeo Rodriguez is a tattoo enthusiast and blogger. His website, Tattoo Lettering can be found at www.tattooletteringblog.com/

Here are more pictures and articles below on the Top Asian Dragon Tattoos. 

What Makes an Asian Tattoo SO Special?  Asian tattoos have been popular for some time now. They are more popular in our culture today due to the fact that they carry significance and meaning [...]

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A tattoo is a permanent marking made by inserting ink into the layers of skin to change the pigment for decorative or other reasons. 

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Buddha Tattoo   SamuraiAgency Japanese Online Design. Asian Dragon.

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Asian Tattoo Design   There are various tattoo techniques ,some of them are beyond the art and are regarded as a spiritual act. Special importance is also the place of tattoos:on the wrists to protect the soul. 

Free Asian Dragon Tattoos  We sell high quality printable tattoo designs by JPEG format and vector format. These arts are also can be used for T-shirt, accessory, tatoo, print ads.

Popularity: 7% [?]