There are few tattoo designs in the world that are as majestic and enchanting as the Chinese dragon. This design is especially for those who are dedicated to bold and elaborate body decoration. You can make it as intricate as you want, and the tattoo will only earn you sincere compliments. So if you have a crush on dragon tattoos but haven’t finalized the design yet, we are here to help you. In this article, we have compiled some popular dragon tattoo designs along with their meanings and placements. Check them out right away!
Meaning of Chinese Dragon Tattoo
Chinese dragon tattoos symbolize power and good fortune. In some cultures, tattoos of these mystical creatures symbolize overcoming fear. They are also believed to symbolize wisdom.
Tattoo enthusiasts often like to customize the look and meaning of a dragon tattoo by adding different elements to it. For example, you can add a skull to give it a sense of robustness or design it with flowers to give it a feminine look. Some people also add a name to the tattoo to represent a sense of protection from or to a loved one.
8 Best Chinese Dragon Tattoo Ideas
If you are excited about the idea of getting a dragon tattoo inked on your body, we are here with the best designs. So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and discover some of the coolest dragon tattoos ever conceived!
1. Chinese Dragon Back Tattoo
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Have you ever thought about getting a dragon back tattoo? We have just what you need. What makes back tattoos so exclusive is that they offer the largest surface area to explore intricate details and beautiful hues. No matter how elaborate the design, your back will hold it up like a canvas. This watercolor tattoo of a Chinese dragon is absolutely stunning. The color palette of the tattoo makes it suitable for all skin tones. The details are so refined that the dragon almost comes to life!
2. Chinese Dragon Arm Tattoo
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This Chinese dragon tattoo on the upper arm will surely win your heart. It is drawn with vibrant colors like green, orange and red. The details of the shell are also inked accurately. The background is shaded using the watercolor technique. The whole tattoo looks absolutely mystical and enchanting. You can get this tattoo on your arm or leg and you will always get compliments on it.
3. Red Chinese Dragon Tattoo
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In Chinese culture, red tattoos symbolize wealth and success. This red dragon body art is perfect for your sleeve. The tattoo is shaded with many colors, especially red. The flowers and the dragon are beautifully drawn and the colors are perfectly blended to create a vibrant tattoo. It can be scaled to cover your entire sleeve or arm, depending on your preference. Although it uses only two colors, it looks quite attractive due to the tactful use of red tones.
4. Chinese Dragon Hand Tattoo
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Hand tattoos are for the brave ones, because it hurts more than other places because it has tons of nerve endings! But once you make up your mind, you will have a tattoo that will always get you compliments. This hand tattoo is of a red and blue colored dragon. The colors are both balanced and vibrant. The design has precise details that cover every millimeter of the hand, making it a beautiful work of art.
5. Chinese fire dragon tattoo
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This bold design is all you need if you want a sleeve tattoo. The red dragon drawn with thick smoke and flaming orange eyes looks fierce and majestic at the same time. The back of the dragon’s head looks like tongues of fire are rising from its head. This tattoo is unique and you can scale it as you like depending on your preference. The red and gray tones of the tattoo make it perfect for any skin tone.
6. Chinese Dragon Thigh Tattoo
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This realistic thigh tattoo is absolutely gorgeous. It takes several long sessions to get it, but it looks bold and powerful when it’s done. The details are worth a million praises. Even though it looks like you’re going through a lot of pain, the illustrative design makes it worth it. This is a great choice for a full leg tattoo.
7. Chinese Dragon With Flowers Tattoo
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Flowers make everything better! So, how about combining a fierce Chinese dragon with the elegance of flowers? The beautiful pink flowers combined with the green dragon in the tattoo above look absolutely stunning. The green dragon is said to symbolize nature. If you love nature, this body art is perfect for you! You can also tattoo this tattoo on your back, or adapt this design as a dragon neck tattoo.
8. Chinese Golden Dragon Tattoo
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Chinese tattoos are tattooed with a lot of intricate details, inspired by their traditional art style. Chinese golden dragons represent happiness and fortune. If you like realistic body decoration, this forearm tattoo will surely impress you! The head of the dragon is drawn with attention to detail. The shading and realistic rendering make this tattoo unique. The color palette makes it suitable for almost all skin tones. The dark background makes the golden color stand out even more.
There is no end to how unique you can make your dragon tattoo design. You can take elements from different art styles and incorporate them into your body art. If you are a fan of realistic body art, make sure to only get it done by an experienced artist. Chinese dragon tattoos usually feature bold, elaborate designs etched onto a large canvas of skin. It is also a testament to your strength and dedication, so make sure to customize your design to represent it in a way that best describes your personality!
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Eve Phillips is an experienced artist in a variety of tattoo styles, although she specializes in fine detail and floral tattoos. She has owned studios in both Australia and the UK for 20 years and has a wealth of knowledge and experience in all areas of tattoo art, health, licensing, trends, current issues and history.
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Monomita holds a Masters Degree in Mass Communication and Video Production from St. Anthony’s College, Shillong and a Masters Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Royal Global University, Guwahati. She is also a certified skin care coach with a keen interest in skin, hair, tattoos, nail art and lifestyle trends.
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Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has written more than 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from University of Calcutta, West Bengal and did her post-graduation from Kalyani University, West Bengal.
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Manjari is a beauty and lifestyle writer with over three years of experience writing across various niches including beauty, health, wellness, and technology. She first discovered her passion for writing in school and has been honing her craft ever since.
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