| According to the Webster-Merriam Dictionary, | | | | a more ferocious and primitive appearance. |
| the word dragon is Middle English, from | | | | They often look like giant lizards with long |
| Anglo-French dragun, from Latin dracon. | | | | tails and a pair of wings. While the dragons |
| | | | are thought of as calculating and thoughtful |
| The definition of dragon is: | | | | monsters, they have also been viewed as |
| | | | mindless beasts. We think of dragons as |
| · A mythical animal usually represented | | | | having talons, fangs, breathing fire, scaly |
| as a monstrous winged and scaly serpent with | | | | skins, and red eyes in our drawings and |
| a crested head and enormous claws. | | | | paintings. The Western Dragons were also |
| | | | known to have huge hoards of gold and jewels |
| · Or someone who is formidable | | | | hidden in their lairs. |
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| The many depictions of dragons are incredibly | | | | Early Christianity condemned the ancient, |
| diverse and complex. No other creature in | | | | benevolent and malevolent serpent deities. As |
| mythology has appeared in so many cultures | | | | a matter of fact, in Christian art, the |
| from such remote parts of the world! | | | | dragon is a symbol of the pagan religion and |
| | | | was often drawn as overpowered by the spirit |
| Many of us think of dragons as a terrifying | | | | of the holy figures of Christianity. |
| beast. However, the Eastern dragons are | | | | |
| portrayed as good, kind, ancient and | | | | The Vikings had figures of dragons on the |
| intelligent. The Asian Dragons have the most | | | | prow of their boats. The dragons on the ships |
| recorded history in the world, especially in | | | | were believed to bestow sharp eyesight and |
| China going back thousands of years. | | | | craftiness to the Viking warriors. The Welsh |
| | | | flag has a red dragon on it and the dragon is |
| The Difference between the Eastern Dragons: | | | | their national symbol. |
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| Chinese dragons have all five toes. The | | | | Why are Dragon Tattoos so popular today? |
| Chinese believe that all dragons began from | | | | |
| China. They believed that as the dragons flew | | | | Dragons are a classic choice for a tattoo |
| south, they began to lose their toes. The | | | | design and they are one of the more popular |
| farther the dragons flew, the more toes they | | | | mythological creatures picked for inking. |
| lost. So, Korean dragons have four toes, and | | | | |
| Japanese dragons have three. | | | | Dragons are depicted as powerful, wise and |
| | | | free. Their legend is always cloaked in magic |
| Korean dragons have four toes. The Koreans | | | | and mythical realm. They come from the tops |
| believe that when the dragons leave Korea and | | | | of sacred Japanese mountains and the bottom |
| go north to China, they begin to gain toes. | | | | of the deepest seas around Greece. |
| When the dragons leave Korea and go north to | | | | |
| Japan, they begin to lose toes. | | | | Dragons have been drawn in a wide variety of |
| | | | forms because of their popular appeal. |
| Japanese dragons have three toes. The | | | | Today's tattoo designers have taken the art |
| Japanese though all dragons originated from | | | | of the dragon to amazing new levels. Whether |
| Japan. They also believed that when the | | | | you want a traditional dragon tattoo or one |
| dragons leave Japan and head north, they gain | | | | with a cutting-edge, modern look you will |
| toes. The farther the dragons went, the more | | | | find an incredible gallery of amazing images |
| toes they gained. This is why the other | | | | to choose from. |
| dragons have more toes. The Japanese believed | | | | |
| the breath of dragons could turn into clouds, | | | | Tattoo artists have paid extra attention to |
| which could produce rain. | | | | creating images of dragons because they look |
| | | | great on the skin. They can be in color, or |
| But here's the kicker, unlike most types of | | | | black & white. Dragon tattoos can wrap |
| dragon, most of the Eastern Dragons have no | | | | around the body and flatter the contours of |
| wings! | | | | the body. Dragon tattoos can be designed as |
| | | | tribal, Celtic or jade designs. The dragon |
| The Western Dragon | | | | tattoo may appear with wings or fire |
| | | | breathing or not. |
| The Western dragons or medieval dragons have | | | | |