For years we have seen the popularity of a tribal dragon tattoo grow and it does not look like slowing down either. Dragons are mythical creatures that can have many different meanings, depending on which dragon you decide for your tattoo. Being a mythical creature gives the tattoo artists a wide range to work with when designing your tattoo and it also gives people the opportunity to have a unique tattoo, increasing their 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 more common tribal dragon tattoos are of the eastern, the western and the imperial dragons. The meaning of an eastern dragon is the nicest of all, they represent kindheartedness, good fortune and they are believed to be a protector. While the meaning of a western dragon is quite the opposite, being seen as an evil, greedy, fire breathing creature. Neither the western nor the eastern dragon have wings, the only one believed to have had wings is the imperial dragon or lung. The meaning of an imperial dragon is quite unique, it believed to have unrivaled wisdom and power which has made it the primary of the four benevolent spiritual animals in Chinese culture. The other 3 of the 4 benevolent creatures are the phoenix, the unicorn and the tortoise.
So, if you're thinking about getting a tribal dragon tattoo, it's a good idea to take these meanings into consideration. Whatever you see yourself as being kindhearted and a protector, as wise and powerful or a little more on the evil side, there are tribal dragon tattoo ideas and meanings for everyone.