The dragon is perhaps the world's most famous mythological figure. The eastern and western vision is quite different, and this is clear also in the dragon tattoo arts. In the East, dragons are seen as benevolent creatures, protectors of life and bearers of good luck and fertility, while those in the West take on more negative connotations and are associated with evil. In the East there are different kinds of dragon:
- The horned dragon
- the most powerful of all
- The celestial dragon
- Protects the gods and heaven
- The dragon of the earth
- The spiritual dragon
- Controls the wind and rain
- The winged dragon
- The only one who is depicted with wings
- The dragon rolled
- Who lives and rules the oceans
- The yellow dragon
- A symbol of knowledge.
The meaning of the dragon tattoo can vary according to sex: men in general tend to use the dragon to represent strength, courage and wisdom, while with a woman there is very strong association with the creation and protection of life.
