Hear Me Roar Source: Instagram intense design, this Japanese tiger back tattoo shows the ferocity of the animal. The expression on the tiger also has an intensity that fits with the Chinese view of tigers as powerful protectors of the forest. Creeping along, the crouching posture of the fearsome beast reflects the movement of the clouds and waves in the scene. Rolling Thunder Source: Instagram with the theme of bringing the rain, this bright Japanese tiger tattoo design matches the folklore of Japanese tigers. The shape of the head, jowls, and paws is more like conventional cat, which fits with the history of tiger depiction in Japanese art. Surrounded by clouds, the tiger on the thigh partners with the dragon on the calf to bring about the change in weather. Inspiring Japanese Tiger Tattoo Designs Traditional Japanese Tiger Tattoo Source: Instagram stylized black and white design, this Japanese tiger tattoo fits with the traditional symbols of nature. No matter what look you are going for, a Japanese tiger tattoo will stand out and make an impression. Their strength and beauty makes them prime subjects for tattoo art, as well as the symbolism of strength and prowess. Still, there is something wonderful and powerful about these animals that is hard to ignore. With that in mind, many of the tattoos based on Japanese tiger art brings in elements that might be more familiar in your kitten than the tigers at the zoo. While many Japanese tattoo artists had never seen a tiger before in the flesh, they used their house cats as models for the expression and movement of the beasts. Still making a reference to the forces of nature, they would balance the winds and the waters and bring about security and a peaceful world. In other senses, the tiger and dragon were regarded as heaven and earth. They were seen to combine together to bring blessings, including rain and peace. The dragon brings the clouds while the tiger brings the wind. In other references to the tiger and dragon, they each served as the opposites in nature. Throughout Japanese art, where there is a tiger, there is likely a dragon also. This fits with the concept of yin and yang with the dragon being the more active yang to the passive tiger yin. Drawing on the Chinese philosophy of Taoism, tigers are depicted as the feminine counterpart to the more masculine Japanese dragon. While the tiger is not native to the islands, the Japanese long revered the majestic cat and featured it throughout their artwork.

The tiger has long been a mystic and mysterious symbol in Asian culture, but even more so in Japan. Disclosure: This Japanese tiger tattoo page contains affiliate links.

Tiger dragon sketch