Are you a lover of both Dragons and the Chinese philosophical concept of Yin Yang? Believe it or not, it is quite common to combine these two ancient Chinese symbols together to make incredible works of art.
If you feel like you’ve been scouring through the darkness, searching for the perfect Yin Yang Dragon Tattoos, then worry no longer.
We’re about to shine a light and help bring balance to your search as we draw together our knowledge of the perfect Yin Yang Dragon Tattoos we could find.
What Does A Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo Mean?
While there is no symbolic meaning of a Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo as it is simply a combination of two other symbolic elements, you should be asking, ‘What does a Dragon Tattoo mean?’ and ‘What does Yin Yang mean?’
A Dragon Tattoo carries with it a lot of symbolism. However, that symbolism depends on what kind of Dragon you choose. There are many variations of Dragon Tattoos, from Japanese Dragon Tattoos, Chinese Dragon Tattoos, European Dragon Tattoos, and Celtic Dragon Tattoos.
Each variant of these Dragons holds different symbolic meanings, from good fortune, seasons, weather, strength, bravery, ferocity etc.
With the rise of Dragons in popular television shows such as Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, to films such as How To Train Your Dragon, animes such as One Piece and Dragonball, and video games with the likes of the Dark Souls franchise to Spyro The Dragon, Tattoo meanings have taken on a whole new world of meaning beyond their traditional symbolism.
Yin Yang, on the other hand, is a Chinese philosophical concept with written records dating back to the Yin Dynasty of about 1400–1100 BCE and the Western Zhou Dynasty from 1100–771 BCE.
Yin Yang describes opposing yet complementary forces and an opposite but interconnected self-perpetuating cycle. The opposing forces interact with one another to form a greater whole than the assembled parts.
Yin represents things such as Darkness, Femininity, Softness, and much more, While Yang represents Light, Masculinity, and Hardness, to name a few.
Each side of the Yin Yang symbol holds a tiny piece of the other part within itself, which symbolizes how, although each side is opposing, they both have a piece of each other within them and can’t exist without the other.
Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo Designs
Now, with a brief lesson on the meaning of Dragon Tattoos and Yin Yang symbolism, let’s dive into some of the best Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo designs we could find.
1. Chinese Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo
Photo credit: @munkymandee
Starting off with where the Dragon and Yin Yang started with this Chinese Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo. The Chinese Dragon, or Loong, is a symbol of good luck, marital harmony, and health, to name a few. I love this Mythological Tattoo Design as it shows each of the Dragons holding their own ‘pearls of wisdom’ that are stand-ins for the dots on each side of the Yin Yang symbol.
2. Japanese Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo
Photo credit: @elzavanhouden
The Japanese Dragon symbolizes wisdom, power, longevity, and more. Japanese Dragons are also believed to protect mankind from universal dangers. This is a nice design of the Japanese Dragon holding onto the Yin Yang symbol with a lot of excellent detailing on the Dragon, particularly on the mane and horns.
3. European Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo
Photo credit: @nagithetattooelf
European Dragons are far more malevolent than their Eastern counterparts. Often being associated with Brave heroes who need to defeat them for a variety of reasons. European Dragons are also usually depicted with wings as opposed to their wingless Eastern cousins.
4. Standard Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo
Photo credit: @lyuba.tattoo
Your standard Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo usually has the Dragon resting on top or coiled around the Yin Yang symbol itself rather than having the Dragons make up the body of the symbol. This Design is really well done with nice colors and a 3-dimensional style effect.
5. Sword Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo
Photo credit: @jayke.tattoos
A Sword Dragon Tattoo represents how the sword is imbued with the power of the Dragon or that the wielder has a Dragons fighting spirit. This is a nicely done Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo with good detailing on the sword hilt and the Dragon’s face.
6. Koi Dragon Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo
Photo credit: Mr. Inkwells
Inspired by the story of the Koi who battled his way up the waterfall, a Koi Dragon Tattoo symbolizes perseverance and transformation after a difficult journey. This is a lovely Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo and I love the way the Dragon’s tail and water from the Koi Fish Tattoo each enter the oppositions side of the symbol.
7. Japanese Brush Stroke Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo
Photo credit: @karmentattoohk
Another of type of Japanese Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo is to have your design in a Japanse Brush Stroke Style. The Japanese Brush Stroke Style was introduced to Japan by Zen Buddhist monks from China in the 14th century and it evolved into the popular sumi-e style. This Design is a great broke stroke style with great use of negative space.
8. Cracked Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo
Photo credit: @cameron_jonker
A cracked Yin Yang symbol can represent disharmony or the breakdown of a relationship. Adding a Dragon can symbolize a couple of things depending on your chosen Dragon. An Eastern Dragon can represent how the Dragon is here to help restore balance, while a European Dragon can symbolize how it disrupts the flow of harmony.
9. Dynamic Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo
Photo credit: @paloma.radrigan
Thanks to the Dragon's shape, you can get very creative with your Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo Designs. Take this design for example with its phenomenal intricate detailing where the bodies of both the Dragons overlap each other and coil around themselves to form a subtle yet noticeable Yin Yang symbol. It’s truly amazing how creative some artists are with their designs.
10. Tribal Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo
Photo credit: @danielratattoo
Tribal Tattoos are known for their bold black ink, geometric and symmetrical designs, and use of negative space. That makes Tribal Dragon Tattoos perfect to be paired with the Yin Yang symbol. This Tribal Yin Yang Tattoo is fantastic with all the elements that make a great Tribal Tattoo but done in a crest design.
11. Dragon Tiger Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo
Photo credit: @hermanaldowibowo
In Chinese mythos, the Dragon represents the universe while the Tiger represents the Eart. However, beyond that, the Tiger and Dragon represent Yin and Yang respectively, making this design one of the quintessential Yin Yang Dragon Tattoos you can have. The Dragon and Tiger Tattoo together symbolize universal balance and harmony, so there are no better designs to pair together to embody the significance of a Yin Yang Tattoo.
12. Colorful Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo
Photo credit: @miss.black.vimana
Most Yin Yang Dragon Tattoos you will come across will almost certainly be Black and White to stick with the Yin and Yang theme. However, there is nothing wrong with adding a bit of color if you choose to do so. This Red Dragon Tattoo is fantastic with its vibrant red coloring and intricate design. I particularly like the clouds in the forefront being white with the ones at the back being black, keeping in the Yin Yang theme.
13. Haku Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo
Photo credit: @mosleytattoos
If you love Hayao Miyazaki’s work from Studio Ghibli, then consider getting one of the studios most famous Dragons Tattooed alongside the Yin Yang Symbol. Nigihayami Kohakunushi or Haku, is a water spirit and god of the Kohaku River and assists movie protagonist Chihiro escape from the Spirit Realm.
14. Unicorn Dragon Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo
Photo credit: @maciej_karsnicki_tattoo
You don't have to keep things completely traditional. You can pair your Dragon with just about anything you desire. Tattooing is one of the ultimate forms of self-expression, after all. So why not infuse your Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo with a Unicorn? Unicorns symbolize purity and innocence, and the European Dragons are vile and malevolent.
15. Spiraling Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo
Photo credit: @erik_huebner
You don't always have to imbue the Yin Yang Tattoo directly into the Dragon's anatomy. Just like this design shows, you can have two Dragons in a spiraling dance with the Yin Yang symbol beneath them. This design has great detail with the scales, especially the reflection effects on the Black Dragon scales.
16. Dragon Phoenix Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo
Photo credit: @rachelroseink
Just like the Unicorn Tattoo, you can opt to add a Phoenix Tattoo to your Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo. A Phoenix represents resurrection, renewal, and regeneration, and together with a Dragon, it symbolizes marital harmony in some Asian countries. This design is really cool, having the Phoenix in its usually blazing glory but also having the Dragon contrast it by being made out of ice.
17. Winged Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo
Photo credit: @ewetattoo
Most serpent like Dragons dont come with wings, but there is no reason you cant choose to have them in your design. There is a debate as to whether winged two-legged serpents are actually Dragons as a lot of people refer to them as Wyverns, but we will put the debate to one side for now. This design is really nice with a double Yin Yang symbol, but i’m not sure why the Dragons have wings on their heads for?
18. Norse Ying Yang Dragon Tattoo
Photo credit: @piyushtattooist
While Norse mythology doesn’t overlap with Chinese philosophy, there is still no reason you can't choose to infuse the two together. Norse mythology does have a legend of a Dragon-like creature known as Jormungandr, the World Serpent, who circles the world with his tail in his mouth. Once he releases his tail, an event called Ragnarok starts, leading to the end of the current world and the beginning of a new one, this symbolizes the circle of life and the interconnectedness of all things.
19. Toothless And Light-Fury Ying Yang Tattoo
Photo credit: Art Immortal Tattoo
Dragons have become increasingly popular with a new generation thanks to the efforts of Toothless from the How To Train Your Dragon franchise. Initially an antagonist to the Vikings, Hiccup gains his trust by repairing his tail before they do battle against the Red Death. This Design is super cute with Toothless as the Black Dragon Tattoo and The Light-Fury as The White Dragon Tattoo each holding a ball of contrasting colors.
Where To Put Your Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo?
Design isn’t the only thing that’s important when it comes to your Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo.
Body placement is equally important. Let’s check out the best places to put your potential new ink.
1. Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo On The Back
Photo credit: @kevinchevalier_tattoo
The back is the best place to get your Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo if you’re truly series about your love for the design. While you can choose to go for a small design, check out this absolutely incredible huge Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo. There is so much detailing and intricacy in this piece the artist deserves so much credit for bringing this piece to life.
2. Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo On The Shoulder
Photo credit: @bojan.tattoo
The Shoulder is a nice place to get a Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo as the rounded nature of the shoulder compliments the round Yin Yang symbol design. The shoulder isn’t ideal if you want to show off your design often unless you live in a warmer climate, but it’s still a solid spot for cool designs if you choose this location.
3. The Chest With Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo Idea
Photo credit: @hoonah.kim
The Chest is the best place to get your Yin Yang Tattoo if you like to show it off proudly. The chest offers a lot of space for a good-sized tattoo that places other than the back can't offer. This design is really nice, especially with its contrasting red dragon and green dragon tattoos.
4. The Arm With Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo Design
Photo credit: @leean.ink
The arm is a great place to get your Ying Yang Dragon Tattoo if you want to show it off as much as possible. Placing your tattoo on your arm also makes it easy to conceal when you need to by simply rolling down your sleeves or wearing a longer-sleeved shirt. This fine-lined Dragon Tattoo is really beautiful, with both the Dragons looking ethereal in nature.
5. Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo Design on The Leg
Photo credit: Medium
Last but not least, the leg is another one of the best places to get your Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo. The Leg is another position where you can show off your new ink as often as possible, particularly if you live in a warm climate. This design is also really nice, with the Dragon looping around the Yin Yang symbol.
Conclusion
So ends our enlightening journey through the philosophical world that is the Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo.
We hope that with our help, you have been bestowed the knowledge you need to acquire the perfect Yin Yang Dragon Tattoo Design.
But if you feel like a Yin Yang Tattoo doesn’t have enough color, check out these Electrifying Yellow Dragon Tattoo Designs, or if you want other symbolic imagery, check out these Japanese Mask Tattoo Ideas, or for imagery from a different side of the world, check out these Celtic Cross Tattoo Designs.
Just as the Yin Yang symbol reflects balance and harmony, so to must you balance your tattoo recovery with the correct tattoo aftercare treatments. So keep your fresh ink’s recovery as harmonious as possible by checking out these incredible tattoo aftercare products.
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