Dragon Tattoos are a very popular tattoo among both men and women due to its versatility in both size and design. There are many types of Dragon Tattoos available today but the Chinese Dragon is most commonly seen as a tattoo design.. A symbol of power and mystery, dragons of the orient are seen as kindly creatures who are the protectors of life, fertility, and good fortune. Dragon tattoos are generally chosen by men as a symbol of strength, courage, wisdom and their powers of protection and women look to the Dragon Tattoo for its power of protection of those around it, being a symbol of strength and fertility. Dragon tattoos are usually designed with a pearl in the dragons mouth, under its chin, or in the dragons claws. The pearl is where the dragon gets its power, and how it ascends to heaven. Dragons are an easy fit for most parts of the body and are often seen crawling down an arm or wrapping up a leg, or in the extreme tattoos, the theme for full back tattoo. Dragon Tattoos are usually tattooed using a full color spectrum but can also be done using the monotones of just black and grey. Whether color or black and grey the Dragon Tattoo is a mark that will surely be admired by many. In Japanese culture Dragon Tattoos are often seen tattooed as full back pieces, as full sleeve tattoos, chest tattoos and in some cases, as full body suits. Japanese dragon tattoos usually feature wingless dragons with serpent-like bodies, small legs and three toes.

The Chinese Dragons

The Chinese Dragons are said to be developed from many different types of Earthly animals: the body of a snake with scales of a carp, head of a camel with antlers of a deer, the eyes of a rabbit, ears like a bull, a neck of an iguana, feet like a tiger and claws of an eagle. These

Eastern Dragons usually are designed with a lion-type mane around its neck, on its chin and elbows. Another feature are its two long whiskers spreading out from their snout. Although hardly ever seen in Dragon Tattoos are the exact number of scales, 117 scales, 81 infused with yang, the good, and 36 infused with yin, the bad, this is what evens out the dragons temper and personality. Eastern Dragons have another distinguishing characteristic: 3 toes, 4 toes, and 5 toes. Three toed dragons are Japanese, four toed dragons are Indonesian or Korean and the five toed dragons, also known as the Imperial Dragon, are Chinese. The Chinese believe that all eastern dragons originated from China and as the Chinese Dragon started to roam farther away from China they began to lose toes. The farther away the dragons flew, the more toes they lost.

Only a Chinese Emperor could display a five-clawed dragon his robes or illustrated on anything the Emperor owned. Anyone wearing or displaying a symbol of the 5-toed dragon other than the Emperor was usually put to death . Their colors vary from blue, black, white, red, or yellow, with the yellow dragon being superior to all others. It has been said that a dragon's favorite food is roasted swallows.

Types of Chinese Dragon Tattoos
The Chinese Dragons are known as Lung.The Lung are broken up into four main types: Tien-lung: The Celestial Dragon: Tien-lung dragons protect the heavens and the territory of the Gods, Shen-Lung: The Spiritual Dragon: Shen-Lung  dragon have control over all the the wind and the rain, Ti-Lung: The Earth Dragon: Ti-Lung dragon  control all the  rivers and water on the Earth, and Fut's-Lung: The Underworld Dragon: Fut's-Lung dragons guard all the precious metals and gems.

Japanese Dragon Tattoos
Japanese dragons are symbols of kindness, freedom and power. Japanese dragons are similar to those of China, but are more serpentine in shape, have only three claws on each foot, and rarely fly. The Japanese believe

Eastern dragons originated in their native homeland, and like the Chinese beliefs, as dragons began to leave Japan, they gained toes. The further away from Japan the dragons roamed, the more toes they gained. Which, to the japanese, explains why the Chinese and Korean dragons have more toes. The Tatsu or Ryu, is the most common Japanese Dragon, which is a descendant of a primitive three-toed variety of Chinese dragon. In the Buddhist religion, the Ryu, ruler of the water, is one of the four divine beasts from Japanese mythology (the other three being the phoenix, turtle and kirin, the Japanese unicorn). Legend has it that  Ryu, the most well-known dragon in Japanese lore, summons a storm by howls, and then transforms into a tornado. The tornado is called "Tatsu-maki" in Japanese. Tatsu is the kanji meaning "dragon". Maki means "roll".

Western Dragon Tattoos
Western dragon, or medieval dragon, are seen as villainous, evil, and dangerously fierce carnivorous reptiles that are reputed  to terrorize villages and abduct women and children. Western dragons resemble serpents and have powerful, muscular bodies. They have four strong legs, a wedged shaped head, sharp pointed teeth, horns, elaborate ears, spines down their backs and a rudder like tail. Their large wings give them the ability to fly to high altitudes; therefore, they are regularly drawn in mountainous landscapes. Western dragons were popular in

the Middle Ages as knights brave enough to fight and kill these fierce creatures would gain the dragon’s protected treasures.

Some Western Cultures believed that dragons were superior beings and if you were able to slay one you were bestowed with many gifts and riches. Some would say that if you ate the heart of a dragon, you will understand the birds, rubbing a dragon's blood against the skin would protect you from stab wounds, eat a dragons tongue and you have the power to win any fight of words. Vikings carved dragons into the sides of their boats, and there are many English crests and coat of arms that have dragons pictured upon them. The Welsh flag has a red dragon on it.

The Medieval Dragon tattoo is often illustrated by many prison tattoo artists. Also well know East LA tattoo artist Jack Rudy has expertly portrayed the Medieval Dragon in many of his commercial sets of tattoo flash.

Chinese Zodiac Dragon Tattoos
In Chinese astrology, “Year of the Dragon” is considered the highest honor of birth, and many chinese would plan their conception to coincide with with the astrological calendar. These years are further broken down into specific dates, and the dragon sign is then accompanied by one of the five elements (water, fire, earth metal and wood) for each of these periods. Below are a list of “dragon” dates and their associated Chinese zodiac dragon tattoos: If you were born during one of these years, then your Chinese zodiac sign would be a dragon.

February 16, 1904 - February 3,1905 Wood Dragon Tattoos
February 3, 1916 - January 22, 1917 Fire Dragon Tattoos
January 23, 1928 - February 9, 1929 Earth Dragon Tattoos
February 8, 1940 - January 26, 1941 Metal Dragon Tattoos
January 27, 1952 - February 13, 1953 Water Dragon Tattoos
February 13, 1964 - February 1, 1965 Wood Dragon Tattoos
January 31, 1976 - February 17, 1977 Fire Dragon Tattoos
February 17, 1988 - February 5,1989 Earth Dragon Tattoos
February 5, 2000 - January 23, 2001 Metal Dragon Tattoos

Wood Dragon Tattoos (creative, fearless when challenged, logical)
Earth Dragon Tattoos (a quiet dragon that rules all of earth)
Fire Dragon Tattoos (extroverted and competitive)
Metal Dragon Tattoos (most strong-willed, refuses to accept failure)
Water Dragon Tattoos (less selfish and opinionated that the others)

Characteristics of those with dragon zodiacs include being energetic, optimistic, intelligent, ambitious, strong, decisive and confident. Failure does not overcome them; instead, they achieve success by consistently overcoming obstacles. They are usually perfectionists and tend to set high standards for themselves. Some celebrities that were born in the Year of the Dragon include John Lennon, Keanu Reeves, Ringo Starr, Bruce Lee, J.D. Crowe, Florence Nightingale and Helen Keller. 

Celebrities with Dragon Tattoos
Dragon tattoos are even popular among some of today’s most famous celebrities. Here is a small sampling of tattooed celebrities and where they bare their dragon tattoos:

DAVID ARQUETTE / Actor: Dragon tattoo on right calf

MEL “Scary Spice” B / “Spice Girls” Singer: Dragon tattoo on back

MELANIE “Sporty Spice” C / “ Spice Girls” Singer: Dragon tattoo on right calf

BRIAN AUSTIN GREEN / Actor: Dragon tattoo on right forearm

JEFF HARDY / Wrestler: Dragon tattoo on left calf

PINK / Singer: Dragon tattoo on upper left thigh

FREDDIE PRINZE, JR. / Actor: Winged dragon tattoo on upper left arm

SCOTT WEILAND / Singer: Dragon tattoo on right arm

BRUCE WILLIS / Actor: Dragon tattoo on right shoulder

JOHNNY WINTER / Musician: Dragon tattoo on chest    

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