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The Japanese Dragon

In the west, it is a greedy, fire-breathing, cave-dwelling, and fear-inspiring creature that jealously guards its hoard.  in the Japanese dragon tattoo, however, it symbolizes something very different.  Oriental dragons are equally at home in the air or in the water. Usually embodying wisdom, strength and manipulating the forces of the universe for the benefit of people.

The face of the oriental dragon is generally not the face of one creature but many and can be different from dragon to dragon.  The dragon can take on characteristics of animals it encounters through its life.  The eyes can be of a demon, or rabbit, while the ears are those of a cow, the neck and belly of a snake, the horns of a stag,  Scales of a koi, the overall head of a camel but usually has a hump on the top, without which it could not fly. its hands or talons are from the hawk or eagle and it has saliva and breath like perfume, a voice like the musical ringing of a copper bell or basin.  The Asian dragon is usually the bearer of profound blessings.  Like other Oriental tattoo designs, the choice of a dragon is generally an aspiration to the qualities of great goodness, wisdom, and power.

When a dragon is seen with color in its scales, it is thought of as being at least 500 years old, younger dragons have not earned or developed colored scales yet, and if the dragon lives as long as 1,000 years it can grow colorful feathered wings, similar looking to the wings of the Japanese phoenix.

Flames can erupt from their limbs, They are not creatures of earth, but rather combine elements of the air and water, equally at home in ocean, river, wind or clouds and have power over them as well as fire.  Although strength and power are represented, the dragon above all is a reconciliation of opposites, a combination of yin and yang.

Also the Oriental dragon is not very often a cunningly malevolent beast. Instead it is strength combined with wisdom and usually is benevolent. The choice of dragon is sometimes an aspiration to qualities of wholeness and wisdom.

Dragon do differ slightly from one another – although to the untrained eye, one large Japanese tattoo seems like another.  A dragon with its mouth closed, in a less aggressive stance is shown to not let evil in, the mouth open is used to let evil out and if two dragons are shown together both will generally be seen.  Dragon can also clutch in one of his claws an object that is variously shown as a ball, a pearl, or a jewel, also known as “the closed-lotus form” essentially the essence of the universe, in order to control the winds, rains, fire and even the planets. This item is essentially seen in various Buddhist designs including temples and grave markers. It represents the spiritual essence of the universe, by which the dragon controls and protects it from those who might usurp those powers.