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HISTORY OF INK: Dragons

Dragon Tattoos: Owned By None, Used by All

It’s almost impossible to engage with tattoo culture without seeing dragon iconography at some point. Whether it’s through traditional Japanese designs or Western Celtic symbolism, dragons have played an important role in tattooing for centuries. In order to understand the usage of dragons in tattooing, it’s important to understand that, quite truthfully, almost every culture in human history has its own versions of dragons, all of which have their own nuance and traditions associated with them.

First Inkling

Humans have been in awe of dragons for a long time; it’s only natural that our art (and, by way, our tattoos) also include that awe. The first official record of a real tattoo is from Otzi the Iceman, a man that died and was frozen in ice in the Alps roughly 3300 B.C. The first records we have of humans talking about dragons in myths include the Sumerian god-mother Tiamat who transforms herself into a “horned serpent with legs”, the creation myth from Egypt about the dragon Apep, and of course, ancient legends from China and India.

The earliest written record of dragons in Asia may be attributed to oracle bone inscriptions from around 3,000 BC, which described their features and appearance. The Shan Hai Jing is a Chinese classic of geography and mythology that also includes legends of various mythical creatures, including dragons. Humans have been tattooing for a long time, but they’ve been talking about dragons for almost equally as long. With so much time to talk and tattoo about dragons, each culture has also developed its own style of tattooing them and has given them their own meanings. Let’s go over a few of the big ones.

Dragons in Tattoos

Dragon Tattoos in Asia

Tattoo by CJ Tattoo

“Asian culture” isn’t a great term to use when talking about art and its history, mostly because the various cultures within Asia are quite different from one another, especially when it comes to dragon tattoos. There is no monolithic “Asian-styled” dragon, but there are various depictions that are more common than others. Maybe the most famous dragon tattoo depictions are Chinese and Japanese in origin, although Korean, Vietnamese, and other nearby cultures also have unique depictions and associations.

Chinese culture has a long and rich history of reverence for dragons, which are seen as mystical and celestial beings. The earliest written record of dragons may have appeared in oracle bone inscriptions from around 3,000 BC, which described their features and appearance. The Shan Hai Jing is a Chinese classic of geography and mythology that also includes legends of various mythical creatures, including dragons. Dragons are one of the Five Blessings and symbolize power, wealth, wisdom, health, and longevity. They are also associated with the emperor and control over the sky, earth, sea, and weather. In traditional Chinese culture, dragons are widely used in painting, sculpture, architecture, and ornamentation, and are considered an important symbol of Chinese traditions. Dragons are usually depicted in positions of ascension, as it is a bad omen to see a dragon facing downwards.

In Japanese culture, dragons are known as "ryujin" and are believed to be symbols of natural forces such as the sea, water, mountains, forests, and the sky. Dragons appear frequently in traditional Japanese stories and art, depicted as creatures with horns, scales, claws, and wings.

In Korean culture, dragons are known as "yong" and are believed to be auspicious creatures representing the sky, rivers, and lakes. Dragons are widely used in traditional Korean painting, ceramics, and crafts.

Another culture that has its own version of dragons is India, where they are known as "nagas" and are depicted as serpentine creatures with multiple heads. The earliest written record of dragons may have appeared in the Mahabharata, an ancient Indian epic poem from the 5th century BC, which tells the story of a multi-headed dragon attacking a kingdom. Nagas are believed to be guardians of the underworld and the treasures hidden there. They are also associated with water, fertility, and wisdom. Dragon tattoos in India may reflect these meanings and show respect for the ancient mythology of the nagas, but today they can also just be aesthetic in nature.

Dragons in Tattoos

Dragon Tattoos in the West

While dragons generally symbolize positive traits in the East, dragons in the West are often depicted as evil, conniving, and powerful creatures that must be conquered. Additionally, the physical descriptions of dragons in the West are of large intimidating monsters, not the flowing and serpentine descriptions from the East.

In stark contrast to the Asian cultures, ancient Greek culture viewed dragons as evil creatures and were often depicted as giant serpents that preyed on humans and guarded treasures. Dragons appear frequently in Greek mythology, such as the legendary Typhon, who was a giant dragon believed to be a guardian of the god Apollo. Other famous dragons in Greek myths include the Hydra, a multi-headed serpent that grew two heads for each that was cut off; the Ladon, a hundred-headed dragon that guarded the golden apples of the Hesperides; and the Python, a huge serpent that was slain by Apollo.

Some of the most notable examples of dragons in the West include the Welsh Red Dragon (which is still on their flag), Slavic dragons, Norse dragons (Nidhogg), and Armenian dragons. The exact meaning of Western dragons will depend on the culture and mythology it is based on. Nidhogg the Norse dragon, for example, symbolized a loss of honor, while Celtic dragons were viewed as powerful guardians. Geography has a lot to say about how cultures view and revere dragons, which in turn impacts how they are inked.

Kuro Sumi Tattoo Pro Artist Cristian Paez of Gringo Ink
Kuro Sumi Tattoo Pro Artist Alessio Ventimiglia

The Essentials

No single story or symbol fully encompasses what a dragon tattoo means. For anyone interested in getting some designs, doing some research on the culture and style you come from or are inspired by is a great way to decide what your ink should look like and what it could represent. Even within certain cultures, various colors can be used to represent different types of dragons (green Japanese dragons are often a reference to nature, for example).

We've also got you covered if you’re an artist looking to start tattooing some dragons. Our Young Bloods artist collection includes portrait realism, fine line, neo-Japanese, and Chinese watercolor styles, all of which are perfect for different types of dragon depictions. Their hand-selected ink collections are a great place to start if you have a specific style in mind for your future designs.

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