Over the years, we’ve seen the popularity of a tribal dragon tattoo grow and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down either. Dragons are mythical creatures that can have many different meanings, depending on which dragon you decide on for your tattoo. Being a mythical creature gives tattoo artists a wide range to work with when designing their tattoo and also gives people the opportunity to have a unique tattoo, increasing its popularity dramatically. A tribal dragon tattoo is very often associated with strength and power, which has made it very dominant in the art of tribal tattoos.

The most common tribal dragon tattoos are eastern, western, and imperial dragons. The meaning of an oriental dragon is the most beautiful of all, they represent goodness, good fortune and are believed to be a protector. While the meaning of a western dragon is quite the opposite, to be seen as an evil, greedy and fire-breathing creature. Neither the western nor the eastern dragon have wings, the only one believed to have wings is the imperial dragon or the lung. The meaning of an imperial dragon is quite unique, it is believed to have incomparable wisdom and power, which has made it the foremost of the four benevolent spirit animals in Chinese culture. The other 3 of the 4 benevolent creatures are the phoenix, the unicorn, and the turtle.

Therefore, if you are thinking of getting a tribal dragon tattoo, it is a good idea to keep these meanings in mind. Whether you see yourself as kind and protective, wise and powerful, or a little more on the evil side, there are tribal dragon tattoo ideas and meanings for everyone.