115+ Gorgeous Tiger Tattoo – Meanings & Design For Men and Women (2019)
Among the most revered creatures on the world is the tiger, it’s beautiful and scary all at the same time. As such, many people the world over are fascinated by the animal, and some have even gone further to have the image of a tiger tattooed to their body.
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History of Tiger tattoo
One reason for the fascination with tattoos is because the tiger is the largest of the cat species in the world, and although it’s not considered the ‘king of the jungle’, the lion takes that crown, it is still revered in many parts of the world.
In Asia, for example, the cat is considered sacred and is regarded as such in the way it’s treated. Some people feed the cat when seen in the wild, and when one dies, it’s cremated in a holy ceremony.
Aside from Eastern communities that have mystical and religious associations with the creatures, other communities simply adore the creature for its beauty and ferocity.
This is perhaps the reason why many sporting teams have the tiger as their mascot, as well as being used in their flags and coats of arms.
Right now, the tiger is an endangered species, with only 3,062 – 3,948 tigers right now compared to 100,000 at the start of the 20th century. This rapid decline is as a result of human conflict and poaching because many people believe the tiger has supernatural abilities.
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Meaning
People get tattoos that depict a character they admire or one that reflects their own image. The tiger is a symbol of beauty and grace yet it can also be vicious and tough.
These are the qualities that have made the tiger so popular and, in fact, the most tattooed animal in the world.
The qualities of the tiger people are so attracted to include: power, dominance and strength; on the other hand, there is also elegance, royalty and beauty.
Tattoos of the tiger have also been fueled by multimedia through films and music; popular films such as Life of Pi and songs like Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger have all led to an increased fascination with tigers. And let’s not forget all the myths and legends about tigers.
Another recent trend is the tattoo of a tiger as a call to action, to remind people of the plight of tigers. No one wants to see one of the most revered animals on the planet just wiped out, so more and more people are getting these tattoos to draw attention to this fact.
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Placement of these tattoos
A good tiger tattoo is well detailed, focusing largely on the head and perhaps claws. Because of this, tiger tattoos tend to be medium-sized or huge, and require plenty of space to retain their detailing.
It is not the kind of tattoo you get in an exposed region if you intend to be taken seriously.
As such, these tattoos are commonly worn on the shoulder, chest, back or thigh areas, depending on the size and detailing you want done on the tattoo.
For example, if you intend to capture the entire silhouette of a tiger, the back would be ideal, but for just the countenance, the shoulder is perfect.
In fact, the curvature of the shoulder would complement the shape of the tiger’s head, making the tattoo more realistic.
Placement of these tattoos in women is usually on the midriff, mostly on the small of the back like Angelina Jolie. However, it can also be placed around the hip, from one side of the belly button and running toward the hip.
This is done because it tends to show a lot more of the feminine side than the viciousness and ferocity of a tiger.
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Types of Tiger tattoos
- Tribal tiger.
The tiger, being a ferocious and strong animal has been used by groups and gangs the world over to indicate they have similar characteristics. When done in a tribal style, the tattoo is usually in black and white and only represents the outline of a tiger.
However, because it is just the outline, the tattoo can vary in size from small enough to fit on the arm to large enough to cover the entire back. It is a great tattoo, but one to adapt in caution because you never know what a gang stands for from its design of the tattoo.
- Dragon-tiger tattoo.
In Chinese folklore, the tiger and dragon are mortal enemies, and they are always engaged in battle. They are both considered as totems of Mother Nature and both represent power, strength, desire and passion.
However, while the dragon is considered a wise creature, in tune with the fundamental elements of the world, the tiger is a representation of brute strength and primal power. In a way, these tattoos can be seen as a struggle between mind and body.
- Baby tiger.
As we mentioned, the tiger is a very beautiful animal, and there’s nothing more beautiful than a cub. The baby tiger tattoo represents the beauty of the tiger and the potential it has to turn vicious.
This type of tattoo is especially suited to women because it shows that there’s much more beneath the beautiful exterior.
In Chinese legend, the universe is kept in balance by five tigers, all powerful. They are distinguished by colour to indicate the purpose they all serve, which is to rule over a natural element.
The white tiger is the ruler of the autumn and governs the element, metal, the black one controls winter and governs water, the red tiger governs the summer and controls fire while the blue tiger controls the spring and earth. In charge of all of them is the yellow tiger.
So when you decide to wear a colored tiger tattoo, you should decide what colour suits your character. Some people also choose to use a colored tiger that corresponds to their zodiac sign.
- Eye of the tiger.
This is the simplest type of tiger tattoos is the simple eye of the tiger, although it’s more commonly in a pair. It effectively illustrates all the characteristics of the tiger, although the eyes by themselves usually indicate focus and instinct.
