Tiger and Dragon Tattoo
A tiger and a dragon face to face: earth against sky, the great balance pairing of Japanese and Chinese tattooing.
- Style
- Japanese
- Joined
- Half and half
- Placement
- Back
Opens Tattoo Fusion with these choices. Change the style, placement or what it means to you; every design is new.
What a tiger and dragon tattoo means
In East Asian tradition the tiger rules the earth and the dragon the sky; they are equal and opposite forces, much like yin and yang. Together they stand for balance between strength and wisdom, body and spirit, or two sides of one person. The pair is a classic subject for large Japanese back pieces and sleeves.
- TigerStrength and willpower
- DragonPower, wisdom and luck
Where to put it
This is a big composition: a full back, a chest panel or a pair of sleeves, one animal on each arm. A half-and-half split also fits a large thigh piece.
Tips for the design
- Traditionally the dragon sits higher, in clouds, and the tiger lower, among rocks or bamboo.
- Wind bars and clouds join the two halves into one piece.
- Plan a large piece in sessions; your artist will outline it all first.
Try it in another style
Questions
What does a tiger and dragon tattoo mean?
Balance between opposite forces: earth and sky, strength and wisdom. It is one of the classic pairings of Japanese tattooing.
Can a tiger and dragon tattoo be split across two arms?
Yes. A common choice is the dragon on one sleeve and the tiger on the other, so the two face each other when your arms are by your sides.
