- 🐉 The Japanese dragon (Ryū) -

The dragon is a universal symbol: the force of nature, purification, fertility, prosperity… It appears in almost every culture, and it continues to inspire tattoo artists today.

It's one of my favorite tattoo subjects!

In Japanese iconography, the three-clawed dragon is the most common. The emperors of Japan even claimed descent from this dragon—and according to tradition, its claws grew longer the further it traveled from the country!

The Japanese dragon represents compassion, wisdom, and power used for good. The thunder it creates symbolizes the energy that awakens us from illusion.

It often holds a mystical pearl, a symbol of enlightenment, knowledge, or good fortune. In Buddhism, associated with the lotus, it becomes the wish-fulfilling jewel—the one associated with the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum.

The dragon has always held a prominent place in the history of tattooing, depicted through the elements (water, fire, wind) or associated with mythological heroes.

One of the most beautiful examples of this fascination remains the "Scroll of Nine Dragons" by the Chinese painter Chen Rong (1244), a work of incredible energy that continues to inspire tattoo artists and other artists.

If you are full of wisdom and strength, just like the dragon, I would be delighted to create a tattoo just for you!

Sylvain