The Japanese dragon tattoo is a very beautiful and colorful and very symbolic tattoo design, with its origins in myths and folklore. It is also very mystical, which adds to the appeal of the Japanese dragon tattoo. Throughout the centuries, since Egyptian times, the dragon has represented both good and evil. However, the appeal of the Japanese dragon, aside from its stunning beauty, is that it represents good luck and the source of wealth. The Japanese dragon also represents the meaning of freedom and bravery, both very attractive qualities.

In Greek, dragon comes from draca, which means serpent.

Like the angel, the Japanese dragon also has the meaning of guardianship, providing a protective force over those with whom it was associated. Other meanings associated with the Japanese dragon are strength and power. In Japanese culture, the dragon is associated with supernatural powers and amazing wisdom.

There are six forms of the Japanese dragon. They are:

Sui-Riu is the Dragon King and has control of the rain. Therefore, in this day and season of drought, he is almighty!

Han-Riu has many stripes on his body and is up to forty feet long. One of the largest dragons.

The Ri-Riu dragon is a rare breed that is not well understood. However, they are known to have incredible eyesight.

Ka-Riu is bright red and a small dragon compared to the others.

Fuku-Riu is many people’s favorite dragon as it is the lucky dragon.

Hai-Riyo is known as the dragon bird and the most advanced form of dragon. It evolved from Chinese mythology.

The colors of the dragons have a special meaning, which are based on their parents. For example, a black dragon means that its parents are very old and wise. Green dragons are smaller than average, but they are representative of life and the earth. Gold-colored dragons are special because they have many special attributes, such as wisdom, kindness, and the ability to meet challenges head-on.

The yellow dragons represent the east. They make great companions when you need a hand, but they can be self-absorbed at times. Blue dragons are from the west. They are forgiving and compassionate, but on the downside they can be lazy and indifferent when it suits them.

Finding the right Japanese tattoo design for you can be quite daunting. Check out all the free sites on the net to get as many ideas as you can. Just remember that many other people have done the same for ideas. For example, last month, more than 41,000 people searched for dragon tattoo designs on Yahoo. Apparently, about 8 times that amount searches Google for the same search term. Then there is MSN and the other search engines. So a lot of people see the same free designs as you. If you want original Japanese dragon tattoo designs, it is recommended that you check out books or other sources of tattoo designs that are not freely available. I’ve reviewed three Japanese dragon tattoo galleries on the internet that have 3,500 to 6,000 different designs, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding what you’re looking for.