Animals are often used in Asian cultures to represent particular characteristics in people. For instance, the Chinese zodiac is made up of 12 animal characters to represent particular characteristics of people born in certain years. The dragon and tiger is favored as a tattoo because it portrays and represents aggression and fierceness. There are also animals outside of the Chinese zodiac that are common Asian tattoo ideas such as the koi fish, which means strength and individualism.
Asian words, especially those from the Chinese or Japanese culture, can appear simplistic or intricate. There is an elegance and deep definition for certain characters. You can select a tattoo of one Asian word character, a particular line or a full script. Common Asian word tattoos include the ones that mean love, life, strength, honor and wisdom.
Many flowers have symbolic meaning in different Asian cultures. There is beauty in many different flowers and it can also represent a delicate and feminine side to one's character. Flowers can also mean life. Common floral designs represented in Asian tattoos include the lotus flowers and cherry blossoms. Often, you can see tattoo designs of an Asian word framed with a floral design. The lotus flower is often included to a tattoo of koi fish as a complement.
The yin and yang symbol offers a meaning of opposites attract. Together, they create a whole. There is balance and harmony when the two different parts are together. The yin and yang symbol has deep meaning and is favored as a tattoo for its simplistic appearance of a circle made up of two halves, one side white and one side black. This is a simple tattoo design that is neither feminine nor masculine -- it is both.