The History of The Dragons and why Dragon Tattoos Are So Popular
According to the Webster-Merriam Dictionary, the word dragon is Middle
English, from Anglo-French dragun, from Latin dracon.
The Definition of Dragon is:
· A mythical animal usually represented as a monstrous winged and scaly
serpent with a crested head and enormous claws.
· Or someone who is formidable
The many depictions of dragons are incredibly diverse and complex. No other
creature in mythology has appeared in so many cultures from such remote parts
of the world!
Many of us think of dragons as a terrifying beast. However, the Eastern
dragons are portrayed as good, kind, ancient and intelligent. The Asian Dragons
have the most recorded history in the world, especially in China
going back thousands of years.
The Difference Between the Eastern Dragons:
Chinese dragons have all five toes. The Chinese believe that all dragons
began from China.
They believed that as the dragons flew south, they began to lose their toes.
The farther the dragons flew, the more toes they lost. So, Korean dragons have
four toes, and Japanese dragons have three.
Korean dragons have four toes. The Koreans believe that when the dragons
leave Korea and
go north to China,
they begin to gain toes. When the dragons leave Korea
and go north to Japan,
they begin to lose toes.
Japanese dragons have three toes. The Japanese though all dragons originated
from Japan.
They also believed that when the dragons leave Japan
and head north, they gain toes. The farther the dragons went, the more toes
they gained. This is why the other dragons have more toes. The Japanese
believed the breath of dragons could turn into clouds, which could produce
rain.
But here's the kicker, unlike most types of dragon, most of the Eastern
Dragons have no wings!
The Western Dragon
The Western dragons or medieval dragons have a more ferocious and primitive
appearance. They often look like giant lizards with long tails and a pair of
wings. While the dragons are thought of as calculating and thoughtful monsters,
they have also been viewed as mindless beasts. We think of dragons as having
talons, fangs, breathing fire, scaly skins, and red eyes in our drawings and
paintings. The Western Dragons were also known to have huge hoards of gold and
jewels hidden in their lairs.
Early Christianity condemned the ancient, benevolent and malevolent serpent
deities. As a matter of fact, in Christian art, the dragon is a symbol of the
pagan religion and was often drawn as overpowered by the spirit of the holy
figures of Christianity.
The Vikings had figures of dragons on the prow of their boats. The dragons
on the ships were believed to bestow sharp eyesight and craftiness to the
Viking warriors. The Welsh flag has a red dragon on it and the dragon is their
national symbol.
Why are Dragon Tattoos so Popular Today?
Dragons are a classic choice for a tattoo design and they are one of the
more popular mythological creatures picked for inking.
Dragons are depicted as powerful, wise and free. Their legend is always
cloaked in magic and mythical realm. They come from the tops of sacred Japanese
mountains and the bottom of the deepest seas around Greece.
Dragons have been drawn in a wide variety of forms because of their popular
appeal. Today's tattoo designers have taken the art of the dragon to amazing
new levels. Whether you want a traditional dragon tattoo or one with a
cutting-edge, modern look you will find an incredible gallery of amazing images
to choose from.
Tattoo artists have paid extra attention to creating images of dragons
because they look great on the skin. They can be in color, or black &
white. Dragon tattoos can wrap around the body and flatter the contours of the
body. Dragon tattoos can be designed as tribal, Celtic or jade designs. The
dragon tattoo may appear with wings or fire breathing or not.
Ancient Dragon lore and illustrations have inspired many of us to select a
dragon tattoo because that design represents how we feel about ourselves --
powerful, ferocious, and free...
Becky McClure believes that the most important word after you make the
decision to get inked is “Patience!” Pick the right tattoo design. Pick the
right location on you. And pick the best artist you can find for your new body
art.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Becky_McClure
http://www.dream-tattoo-design.com
|
