Chinese and Japanese Tribal Dragon Tattoos

Chinese Tribal Dragon Tattoo

Dragon tattoos are one of the most popular designs all over the world. Dragon tattoos come in two popular forms: the Chinese or Japanese dragon of the east with its long, snake-like body and the European dragon of the west with its powerful wings and long neck. The European dragon usually symbolizes power and fear, a depiction of evil where as the Chinese dragon usually symbolizes unity and conformity, a depiction of good.

You can find many different designs of dragon tattoos in different forms and colors. Most often, the eastern dragons are the ones being used as a basis for the designs for the tribal dragon tattoos. Japanese dragons have only three claws where as the Chinese dragons have five. Though, some in today's society, eastern dragons that are being created into tribal dragon tattoos is being depicted as a symbol of fear and power; a contrast to the real symbolism of the eastern dragons.

Japanese tribal Dragon Tattoo

100 Demons Hapanese Tattoos

100 Demons Hapanese Tattoos

Japanese Tattoo Design 11

Japanese Tattoo Design 11

dragonfly tattoo 3D rib body design

dragonfly tattoo 3D rib body design

3d tattoo back body crazy man

3d tattoo back body crazy man

Zebra heart tattoo rib sexy girls

Zebra heart tattoo rib sexy girls

tattoo text rib women sexy girls

tattoo text rib women sexy girls

Butterfly tattoo rib sexy girls, Photo tattoo design

Butterfly tattoo rib sexy girls, Photo tattoo design

flower rib tattoo sexy women

flower rib tattoo sexy women

ribs tattoo tribal rose flower tattoo sexy girls

ribs tattoo tribal rose flower tattoo sexy girls

ribs tattoo rose flower sexy women art on body

ribs tattoo rose flower sexy women art on body

Japanese Sleeve Tattoos

Japanese Sleeve Tattoos - The Coolest Japanese Tattoo Designs For Men

Often guys get skulls, flames and sexy pinup girls as a sleeve tattoo design. However, recently there has been more and more men interested in Japanese sleeve tattoos. This is great because the Japanese have a long history of full body tattoos and therefore they are very advanced in their sleeve tattoos. These designs are cool and they make a great tattoo design for men also. Here are some ideas to help you get started on your own full sleeve tattoo design.

Koi Fish

Koi fish are an ever popular theme for sleeve tattoo designs. The beautiful oranges of the koi fish and the blue water background lend themselves to the perfect tattoo design for a sleeve. By wrapping the fish around the front of the arm the fish looks dimensional and really pops out and comes to life. Thus it makes a cool looking tattoo with a lot of life. However, more then that the Koi tattoo represent strength, power and individuality. It represents the struggle of going through life and striving to be better. You see the Japanese myth is that the koi fish try to swim upstream. Not all of them make it but the ones that make it to the golden bridge become dragons and fly off into the sky. Dragons
Of course there is always the dragon. This is only second to the koi fish because dragons have been so common place. However, a powerful fierce dragon in red or black makes for the ideal tattoo design for men. It looks rough and tumble and ready to throw down or just breathe fire on a person. The dragon is a very mystical and mythical beast that is filled with all kinds of magic and great lore. The symbolism is of course of power and strength.

Samurai

Samurai and gods are always very popular in traditional Japanese sleeve tattoos. These designs of course feature either fierce samurai in the heat of battle of gods fighting off evil spirits. Either way you end up with a way cool dude tattoo. What can be more guy then a man swinging a huge katana sword and slaying a dragon or a demon. The reason the Samurai is so popular in Japanese tattooing and traditional arts is that the samurai is seen to embed everything that is important to the Japanese male. The samurai carries the Japanese culture as well as being a strong and fierce warrior in battle yet is always mindful and follows the code of bushido. This is what every Japanese male wants to be deep down.

Hannya Masks

The Hannya mask was originally used in Kabuki plays in Tokyo. However, the masks were such beautiful yet haunting piece of artwork that they became stand alone pieces of art. Many Japanese would collect and display them in their house and they believe it would ward off evil spirits. The Hannya masked represents a scorned women that has been overcome by her rage that she has turned into an evil demon. These are also very popular in traditional Japanese tattoos and tattoo in the West. It is hard to make a full sleeve of one mask but it can easily be combined with other Japanese designs and symbols.

Japanese Character Tattoos

Japanese Character Tattoos

Say you want Japanese symbols characters for tattoos that you want to be printed on your body. I mean, how else can you hide the fact that you had your ex-lover's name inked on your wrist but still not seem like a demented and stalker ex boyfriend, right? Or more so, how else can you have your mother's name printed on you is a "cooler" more hip way?

Thing is, the danger in having Japanese style tattoos is that since you have no idea how the language goes, you are not assured on how the characters should be. I mean, the odds of choosing a symbol that you fancy that may mean something positive but you end up getting it printed on you inverted are very high as that is one horror story I have heard about Japanese character tats.

Japanese Character Tattoos

Another boo-boo that may occur is that you use an online translation site that converts a word for you to Japanese. Anything free online is usually BS so it is highly likely as well that your translation could go wrong.

And if you do go to a Japanese restaurant and ask a waiter to translate things for you, he may not be able to understand what you really mean and give you a translation so far off, you wish you'd just stuck with the online translator.