Dragon Tattoos – From East to West

When looking for dragon tattoos, you first need to decide whether you are looking for an Eastern dragon or a Western dragon. The Eastern dragon works for the good, protecting people and heralding fertility and good fortune. The Western dragon is evil. It destroys villages and collects and hoards treasure. A dragon tattoo starts with those major differences of dragons, and then can be broken down even further.

The Western dragons have the wings of a bat, and a wedge-shaped head. These dragons are often seen breathing fire. Some Western dragons are shape changers, and they can also be chameleon-like. These dragons can be of many different colors.

The different types of Eastern dragons are usually not seen breathing fire, except in the case of the Imperial Dragon. Different parts of other animals go into making up the Eastern dragon such as the scales of a fish, ears like a bull, neck like a snake, claws of an eagle, etc. Eastern dragons have 117 scales, 81 are good (yang), and 36 are bad (yin). Three-toed Eastern dragons are Japanese four-toed dragons are Indonesian or Korean, and five toed Eastern dragons are Chinese.

Faerie dragons are very small, and have large eyes and butterfly-like wings. These dragons are always vegetarian. Faerie dragons are very rare, and are sometimes said to carry faeries from city to city. Wyvern dragons only have two legs, but their dragon wings sometimes have claws on them that act like hands. Wyvern dragons also sometimes have a poisonous stinger in their tail. The Hydra dragon has multiple necks and heads, and may or may not have wings.

A tattoo could have any of these types of dragons on it. You should start with first deciding whether you want to show the good of the Eastern dragon or the evil of the Western dragon taking into account of course the aspect of beauty and awe in the image you choose for your tattoo.

 

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