Tiger Tattoo Meaning
Where the lion is a king, the tiger is a hunter and a guardian. In Asia it has protected homes, temples and people from evil for more than two thousand years.
Power and courage
The tiger is the strongest of the big cats and hunts alone. A tiger tattoo speaks of raw strength, courage, independence and the will to fight for what matters.
Guardian against evil
In Chinese tradition the White Tiger is one of the four guardian creatures of the sky, protector of the West. Tigers were painted on doors and embroidered on children's clothes to keep away evil spirits and illness. In Korean folk art the tiger is a protector and a figure of strength.
The tiger in Japanese tattooing
In Japanese tattooing the tiger stands for strength, courage and long life, and for protection against bad luck and disease. It is often shown among bamboo or wind, and it is one of the classic subjects for sleeves and back pieces.
Tiger and dragon
The tiger and the dragon are the classic pair of Asian art: earth and sky, physical strength and spiritual power. Together they stand for balance between two forces.
How the drawing changes the meaning
A roaring or attacking tiger reads as aggression, fight and protection. A calm tiger lying down or walking forward reads as confidence and controlled power.
Tigers in black and grey realism
Without color the tiger is read through its stripes, its fur and above all its eyes. A realistic tiger portrait needs the forearm, the upper arm, the shoulder, the thigh or the chest; a full tiger in motion suits a sleeve or the back.
Tiger Tattoo Questions
What does a tiger tattoo symbolize?
Strength, courage and independence, and in Asian tradition protection against evil and illness.
What does a tiger and dragon tattoo mean?
Balance between two forces — earth and sky, physical and spiritual power.
What does a Japanese tiger tattoo mean?
Strength, courage, long life and protection against bad luck and disease.