Mike Tyson Tattoos

The History of The Dragons and why Dragon Tattoos Are So Popular
By Becky McClure

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...

Chinese and Japanese Tribal Dragon Tattoos
By Bernice Eker

Dragon tattoos are one of the most popular designs all over the world. It can go in any category, whether abstraction, naturalistic, dedication, stylized or combination tattoos.



Throughout history, dragon tattoos have never been out of fashion and had been used as a symbol in some parts of the world. It can be drawn as menacing or regal depending on your choice of design.

Dragon tattoos come in two popular forms: the Chinese or Japanese dragon of the east with its long, snake-like body and the European dragon of the west with its powerful wings and long neck. The European dragon usually symbolizes power and fear, a depiction of evil where as the Chinese dragon usually symbolizes unity and conformity, a depiction of good.



You can find many different designs of dragon tattoos in different forms and colors. Some of these dragon designs have additional background scenery where they are depicted flying in the clouds, swimming in the ocean, crawling on top of mountains or ravaging small villages. But the most common depiction of a dragon is being done as tribal dragon tattoos due to both its simplicity (the majority color being in either black or gray with the additional color to highlight the dragon) and its complexity.



Most often, the eastern dragons are the ones being used as a basis for the designs for the tribal dragon tattoos. Chinese and Japanese designs are the ones most common to be created into tattoos. Both have similar features: long, snake-like body, wingless and have horns. The only difference between these two dragons is their claws. Japanese dragons have only three claws where as the Chinese dragons have five. Their long, wingless bodies are less complicated to draw and since tribal tattoos are mostly being done in one color (two at the most), the outcome of these dragon are more elegant looking and sophisticated.



Though, some in today's society, eastern dragons that are being created into tribal dragon tattoos is being depicted as a symbol of fear and power; a contrast to the real symbolism of the eastern dragons.

Some people today would ask for a tribal dragon tattoo when they want to look tough or powerful. They would look for the best dragon design and ask to have it done. But there are still those who see the eastern dragon as a symbol of wisdom and would ask for a dragon as a sign of respect. And still, others would just like a tribal dragon tattoo because the artistry is very well made and it looks good in the body.



The most common place to find a tribal dragon would be on the whole arm length or at the back.

There are still some parts of the world where dragon tattoos are still used as a symbol in society. Whether they are being used as a status symbol in an organization or a clan, they are a mark of respect and power to the people who still value them.

Tree Tattoo Pictures
By R. Dercks

Tree tattoo pictures are not very common. Are they? Not many people will be having tree tattoos. Have you wondered why it is so? That is because trees have a great significance in many Asian and African cultures. It also has links with Celtic history. The meaning of tree tattoo pictures is linked with all these cultures and the impact and significance is so strong that many people prefer not to get it.



Now if you are thinking that you see so many girls with different flower tattoos like roses, daisy, lily, sunflower and leaves like shamrock and others. Are they not tree tattoo pictures? NO! They are not. They are flower tattoos. I am talking about a tree as in whole.



So here are some popular tree tattoo pictures for you!



The most popular one is the cherry tree tattoo pictures. This female-only tattoo is a symbol of sexuality and beauty but not in literal terms. This tattoo gets its meaning from the Japanese cherry blossom which is a symbol of life which is short and beautiful and Chinese cherry blossom which means power. Both these are close to beauty of a woman which is her power and is also short lived. However there is this not so popular tattoo of cherry tree with falling cherry. It means that a girl has lost her innocence and Beauty just as a cherry fallen from a tree loses its beauty and juice. So many girls avoid it fearing it might convey wrong message.



Then there is the Bodhi tree; A tree under which Buddha sat for years and meditated. He finally got his enlightenment under this tree. People who firmly believe in the teachings of Buddha have Bodhi tree tattoo pictures. Very few in today's world who firmly believes and follows his teachings may get one!!



Then there is the acorn which grows to mighty oak tree. Acorn has so many different meanings in different cultures. It varies from strength to fertility. Even in tattoo pictures it differs in the way it's drawn. Then there are other trees as well.

Chinese Tattoos Symbols, Designs, Ideas And Themes
By Chris Ryerson
Recently there's been a huge rise in the field of tattooing. With popular TV shows like Miami Heat in LA Inc. being broadcast on national TV more and more people are getting tattoos. Of particular fascination to many are Chinese tattoo symbols and designs. The art of tattooing in China actually dates back much farther then its western counterpart. In the West until he didn't come into fashion until very late in the 20th century and mainly in the early 21st century. However, the art of tattooing has a long history in many Asian cultures including China, Japan, and even Thailand just to name a few. What is ironic about this is typically tattoos are used in many of the Asian cultures to mark criminals and other social deviants.



Regardless of the past Chinese tattoo symbols have been widely adopted into the western tattoo lexicon. The mystique and foreignness of an Asian tattoo and the beauty of Chinese and Japanese writing have really sparked a lot of interest among western tattoo enthusiasts. There are many beautiful Chinese designs of themselves well to the art of tattooing. However in much of Asia since tattooing was done in criminals and social deviants many of the designs are very large and often full body pieces especially in Japan.



These often are very expensive designs and take many hours in a tattoo shop this is led many western tattoo enthusiasts to opt for Chinese symbols. The beautiful script used in China lends itself well to creating a mysterious and ancient looking tattoo that is not easily discernible by the average Westerner.



The most common Chinese tattoo symbols that are sought after are often representative of important values. For example a simple word that represents themes like love, strength, or power. Another common theme among western tattoo enthusiasts is to seek a translation of something important in the Chinese. For example it's very common for men and women alike to get the names of their children translated into Chinese and the tech to them on their shoulders arms or back.



For those wishing to embellish their tattoo their many smaller themes designs they can easily accompany Chinese Japanese writing a script. For example, men will getting Tiger, lion, or dragon to accompany their design. Women tend to opt for a more delicate designs such as the cherry blossom, yin yang symbol, or a koi fish design.



There are a wide variety of very beautiful tattoo designs throughout Asian cultures. Anyone considering getting a Chinese or Japanese tattoo would be well advised to check their overall design especially the writing with a native speaker of the language. Their many incidents where a person is purchased a flash tattoo at a local tattoo shop thinking that it meant one thing later find out that that's a totally different.

How to Enhance Your Popularity like that of Tattooed Celebrity, Jenna Jameson

Jenna Jameson is a world renowned adult movie actress who has a “heartbreaker” engraved on her sexy butt. Her tattoos include a flower on her ankle and a few more in sensitive spots of her body. Are there any traces of past history in the tattoo artwork?

It is said that tribal groups in China had tattoos in their bodies thousands of years ago. Even now, the art of tattooing is still practiced in these tribes near the boarder of Myanmar for generations following their identity of tribal affiliation.

In New York, Samuel O’Reily patented his tattoo machine in 1891 and that started its popularity in America. However, since O’Reily used electric pen in designing tattoos, it was made easy for the average men to have tattoos at lower cost.

This caused the decline in its popularity enabling ordinary people to have tattoos thus losing the status symbol of tattooed upper class. In 1925, only 10% of the population was tattooed in the U.S. but many people working in circuses, carnivals and freak shows were tattooed.

Today, a great number of people are sporting tattoos including men and women, young and old, middle class and celebrities. This quantity is expected to rise with the advent of tattoos which are now a trend in Hollywood.

Jenna Jameson tattoos

The Gaining Popularity of Tattoos with the Rich and Famous Celebrities like Mary Blige

This hot and well-known diva has unique collection of tattoos in her body. Her long stemmed rose printed on her thigh arouses interest among onlookers. A design of mysterious letters on her left arm and a Chinese symbol for strength are etched in her right hand and other images at her back.

Tattoos are gaining unparalleled popularity among the stars today and the common designs that you can see are dragons. People are now considering the wedding ring tattoo as an option for gold, silver and other gemstones used for wedding rings due to their high prices.

In having a tattoo in the finger, it is not an easy one because you have to endure the pain in piercing the finger. Another thing is that the tattoo does not heal quickly so you cannot perform your activities normally. When a break-up occurs, the tattooed wedding ring stays in your finger unless you want it removed at a high cost.

You can cut the portion of the skin that is tattooed and have the skin replaced from other parts of your body. Sanding or dermabrasion can also be applied but you have to expect pain and bleeding. The use of a laser is the most common way of tattoo removal but it is so expensive.
Mary J Blige Tattoos


Mary J Blige Tattoos

How Come that Paris Hilton Won a Tattoo Award when She has no Tattoos?

The socialite, heiress and celebrity, Paris Hilton is one of the top 25 tattooed celebrities ‘though she has nothing now on her body. It seems tattoos are not meant for a socialite like Paris Hilton, but she has an intense penchant for tattoos.

Once she had a tattoo of her ex-boyfriend, Backstreet Boy Nick Carter on her right buttock but has been removed by laser. Her winning the top 25 tattooed celebrity award could be attributed to her passion for tattoos and losing her home movies and her fiancée. Her name is an excellent barometer of popularity in Hollywood.

If this is your first time to have a tattoo and you want to look like a celebrity, why not choose a Dragon as your style? Tattoo artists love to engrave the image of Dragons because they want to express their strong emotion thru these powerful creatures.

You are sure to impress anyone who sees the Dragon image in your body. It symbolizes strength for Chinese, power and wisdom. People sporting Dragon images are recognized to have those traits symbolized by their Dragon tattoos. Dragon designs are one of the most popular tattoos in the list of famous artists.

Paris Hilton tattoos

Paris Hilton tattoos

Paris Hilton tattoos

Paris Hilton tattoos

Will Tattoo Stay Forever or Just a Fad for Celebrities like Pink?

Alecia Beth Moore, a pop star better known as Pink, has a unique tattoo design in her body. This 27 years old singer has a tattoo of a shooting star and angel at her left shoulder. At her right wrist is engraved ”what goes around come around.”

Above it is “tru luv” and on her left thigh is a design of a dragon. At her left stomach is etched a cartoon cat and below her hairline is the barcode from the album “Miss Undaztood.” The back of her right hand has the Chinese symbol for strength and other attractive designs at her back.

Pink is one of the famous tattooed celebrities with unique tattoo collection in her body that draw the attention of people wherever she goes. The dragon in her left thigh is patterned from oriental design which is one of the most popular designs of tattoo nowadays.

If you go to the beach resorts, you will see a lot of men and women sporting a dragon tattoo in different parts of their body. One of the reasons why dragon image is preferred by celebrities, artists and young people is that this creature is a mythical beast that symbolizes power, strength and rapid movement, as well as the power of the fire that it emits in its mouth.
Pink tattoos pictures

What are those Tattoos Doing in the Body of Spice Girl, Victoria Beckham?

Victoria Beckham, the former Spice Girl has five tattoos.
Her first tattoo are 5 stars at her back representing her family members.

Her 2nd is down the back of her neck The tattoo is in Hebrew and is from the Song of Solomon 6:3.


Next tattoo is 08.05.1997 in roman numbers, which was the day David and Victoria Beckham had sex for the first time


The forth tattoo are initial DB of her popular husband, David Beckham on her left wrist.

Her latest tattoo is located underneath an older Roman numeral one, but the complex script is difficult to read
Her tattoos are engraved beautifully that attract the attention of the public.

Tattoos are not new in China where traditional tattooing among some tribes was practiced. China has a rich history of tattooing tradition with the natives living in the mountain region near the Myanmar border. But this traditional tattooing is nearing its extinction if not propagated with the help of the Chinese government.

Several Dulong tribe women trooped to Beijing capital to prove to the Chinese government that tattoo is indeed part of their heritage. Men tattooed their faces and etched designs on their bodies to protect themselves from large fishes whenever they go fishing in the sea. Later, these tattoos were used as ornaments for their bodies.

The style of tattooing varied according to tribe. The placement and sizes of designs had something to do with the rank of the person. Tribes had to follow rules in having tattoos. They just cannot have the size and kind of tattoos that they want. They have to use the type of tattoos fitted for their rank and stature.

Anna has a huge star tattoo at her back. What makes a woman become a tattoo enthusiast especially for a popular tennis star and celebrity like Anna Kournikova? First, it is a fad in Hollywood where you can see a lot of stars wearing different kinds of tattoos in their chosen designs.

Second, tattoo fans are increasing and they love to see their favorite movie stars and celebrities having the latest tattoo fashion. Lastly, tattoos enhance the beauty of a celebrity and make her feel in the limelight with an improved aura even in formal gatherings. It becomes a blend of modern and tribal sophistication that is amusing to renowned personalities.

Tattoos are indeed global and even in Japan tattoos have been in circulation for so many years. They are treated in 2 categories in Japan; one is for symbol of power and authority and the other one is for the outcast of the society.

People are tattooed as punishment and they form the group of minority such as the “eta” or the shame of the people and the “hinin” or the non-humans. Even during the war, Japanese soldiers had their bodies etched with tattoos for identification purposes.

When their corpses are mutilated in the battlefield and their uniforms are stolen, the tattoos in their bodies become an important mode of identification.
A gallery of Anna Kournikova tattoo pictures:

Anna Kournikova Back tattoo

Anna Kournikova bikini line Back tattoo

Anna Kournikova at the Nautica South Beach Triathlon 2009