tattoo designs: Tiger Tattoo Designs

Tiger tattoo design

Tigers, weighing in at between 250 and 600 pounds are the largest member of the cat family, with the Bengal tiger being the most common amng the species. There are other species with varying color and stripe patterns. Some species, most notably the Sumatran tiger are on the endangered species list, with a few species already extinct.

Both men and women are getting tiger tattoos inked these days. The tiger is arguably the most tattooed animal in the world, which may be due to its incredible beauty and unique symbolism.

Tiger and dragon tattoo design

In Japanese tattoos, the tiger is sometimes partnered with a dragon to symbolize heaven and earth: yin and yang. To the right here is a great example of that combination. This tattoo design was very remarkably done by the artist and obviously is very symbolic and meaningful to this young lady.

In China the tiger is considered the king of all beasts (not the lion) and represents powerful energy. In certain areas of China the tiger is considered the God of Wealth.

Deeply rooted in Asian culture, tiger tattoo designs are popular in both Eastern and Western tattoo genres, and have a rich history in myths and legends in many cultures. Tigers are associated with power, ferocity, passion and sensuality, beauty and speed, cruelty and wrath.

Angelina Jolie getting her tiger tattoo inked by hand

Angelina Jolie had this 12-inch long, 8-inch wide Bengal tiger tattoo on her lower back done in Bangkok in 2004, during a 2 hour session by tattoo artist Sompong Kanhphai who also blessed it by chanting an ancient hymn.

It took two hours to complete the tattoo because Angelina opted for a traditional Thai tattooing style. Purely by hand, the tattoo artist maneuvered a long needle that glides inside a hollow tube, delicately inking the skin manually.

This tiger tattoo accompanies an iroquois design, a tribal dragon design, as well as a window design which she covered up the by tiger's tail.

Tiger and dragon tattoo design

The tattoo here is another example of the tiger being paired with the dragon tattoo design, symbolizing heaven and earth. This artwork was also very craftily inked by a very talented artist.

Tigers, like many other large and dangerous creatures, have a myriad of symbolic values that make them a perfect tattoo for many different reasons. Combining menace, danger, power, strength and beauty into a single symbol, tigers can represent many different things to different people and have a rich history in many cultures in India, China and South East Asia that connects them to religions, myths and even historical figures.

Superbly done white tiger tattoo design

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