Self Improvement

Truly one of the most majestic and magical of all the mythical beasts the dragon demands the attention it constantly receives in the world of tattoo designs. Dragon are prevalent design and symbolic elements throughout Asia including Chine and especially Japan. This has lead to a great deal of Japanese and Chinese artwork to use this mythical beasts as a central theme in their tattoo design work.

Japanese Dragon Tattoo Possibilities

There are really an endless number of possibilities when considering getting a dragon tattoo design. The size, style and location of the dragon can greatly change and enhance the symbolism behind the design. For example a dragon with fiery red eyes wrapped around a large sword might represent strength and power. Yet on the opposite end of the spectrum one depicted flying high in the clouds above a lake or the mountains might be a symbol for peace and freedom. What your dragon will symbolize is really dependent on the design and style you choose to give the dragon.

The History Of The Dragon In Japan

Dragons are one of the most important of all the mythological beats in Japanese culture. The Japanese of course have their own word for the dragon, they call them “Ryu” or “Tatsu”. They are typically depicted as very long, skinny and full of scales very similar to a serpent. They also frequently are believed to live around large bodies of water. These creatures are so powerful that they are a god and to be revered. In fact the Japanese believed that their first emporer had descended from a dragon and therefore is partially a god and infallible.

The dragon is not only popular in Japan but throughout all of Asia including China, Korea and numerous other Asian countries. You can find dragon designs throughout the sculpture, architecture and art in Japan even to this day the dragon is still a very popular design.

One can see the long history and importance role that dragons play in the prevalent use of dragons throughout Japan. Today it is very common to see dragon sculptures at alters, temples and other places of worship. Miyajima is probably one of the most famous temples dedicated to the dragon. Miyajima means The Isle Of The Temple and is a popular place for religious pilgrimage, tourists and travelers to come and pray to the dragon god for good luck and good fortune. Another famous spot can be found at the Sonsoji Temple in Asakusa Japan.

At the Sensoji Temple in Asakusa Japan every spring is a very special time of year. It is rumored that way back in 628 AD two brothers were fishing along the Sumida river. During their fishing trip they discovered a beautiful statue of Kanon the Goddess of Mercy. At the time they made this discovery a gold dragon flew out of the Sumida river and up into the sky as a way to mark such an important event and such a big finding. Thus every spring the dragon in taken out oft he Sesoji temple and then paraded around the temple grounds.

In both Buddhist and Taoist religious traditions the dragon is seen to also represent the hardships that a spiritual pilgrim will have to face in their journey towards enlightenment.

Not only can the dragon be found in the sculptural and architectural works done by the Japanese but it can also be found in the literary works. For example there is the famous story os an eight headed serpent like that eats young women whole. Susanoo (the hero) is able to trick the serpent. He offers the serpent some sake to drink and then proceeds to get the serpent drunk. He then slays the evil eight headed beast, Yamata-No-Orochi.

Japanese Dragon Tattoo Placement Since dragons are so prevalent through Japanese art, architecture, and literature there are many different even historically famous tattoo designs to choose from when contemplating getting a dragon tattoo. As far as location the most popular place is a very large full back piece. This allows for a lot of canvas space to truly depict the beauty and power of the mystical beast. You are not just locked into a large back piece however, as there are many different dragon tattoo designs to work with and you can get a tattoo anywhere on your body that you want. Typically calves, shoulders and sleeve tattoos also work well for dragon tattoos. The choice is up to you and what you want and what you are looking to express int he design.

When you plan to learn how to play the guitar, it is very important that you have your own. Finding the best guitar the first time can be a little nerve racking. When you go to the music store, you will see lots of guitars; different sizes, different types and different styles and since it is your first time to buy it, you get lost on what you should do and what you should pick. To help you with the trouble of choosing which one is the best for you as a beginner, below are some tips that might help you narrow down your choices:

1. Decide on the type of guitar. This is the first thing you should have in your mind before going to the music store. Decide on the type of guitar you would like to learn and master. There are many types of guitar. You can choose from classical guitar, flamenco guitar, acoustic guitar, base and electric guitar. This will shorten your decision time when you are already in the music store. Most people prefer to learn and buy an acoustic guitar simply because it is suited to a variety of music styles. Electrical guitar is best for beginners. It looks more complicated than the acoustic one. However, it is more recommended for first time guitar players as it will be easier to play. The strings of an electric guitar are closer and it doesn’t require much pressure to reach the different strings especially when your fingers are not yet familiar with transferring and moving on the fret board.

2. Test the sound. It is very important to test the quality of guitar by checking its sounds. Do this by plucking the strings. A good quality guitar has a clear and crisp sound otherwise you are holding the wrong one.

3. Have the strings changed. If the guitar you have chosen has already strings on it, do not forget to ask the seller to change it. This way, you are sure that the strings are new and that you can use them for a long time.

You may also choose to buy a beginner’s guitar. This type of guitar is cheaper than the others however you will need to buy a new one as you progress in your learning. Remember the basic, the guitar you should buy must look good and sound good. You might encounter good salesman that would make you fall for his tactics. Do not give in. Be smart as the guitar that you will be buying shall be with you for as long as you want it to.

There’s old country. There’s new country. Then there are the Dixie Chicks.

Natalie Maines, Martie Seidel and Emily Robison have taken the Texas-bred sound of a fiddle, banjo, dobro and crystal-clear vocal harmonies into whole new territory. They are the rare act that comes along a few times in a generation that is destined to shake things up, rewrite the rules and become the new musical trendsetters.

The public has certainly noticed. The Dixie Chicks’ first Monument album Wide Open Spaces has become the biggest selling album ever by a country duo or group - racking up some 6 million sales by the time their second album, Fly, was completed. The tremendous sales only demonstrates that while the Dixie Chicks have established themselves as a true country music act, they have also won over audiences outside the country genre. In a music field routinely known for selling to the conservative 30 and over crowd, more than 60% of the Dixie Chicks sales have been to consumers under the age of 25. Their concert audience is as likely to be comprised of entire rows of young women in their early teens and twenties as it is to include middle age couples and entire families complete with pre-teen girls dressed like their musical idols and singing every Dixie Chicks’ song word for word.

The press has certainly noticed. Publications from Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly and People to Harper’s Bazaar, In Style, Seventeen and TV Guide have documented how the Dixie Chicks are bending the music world to their will and making country music more ‘hip’ than ever. With the wrap-up of 1998, numerous national publications named them the “Breakout Act of the Year” and recognized Wide Open Spaces as one of the “Best Of” albums of the year. USA Today credited the Chicks with single-handedly returning the banjo to country radio and Rolling Stone summed it up when they called them “the badass queenpins of country.” At a time when much of the press on country music has lamented the ’sameness’ of the sound and the artists, no less than the Los Angeles Times conceded that “the Dixie Chicks are the perfect antidote.”

The music industry has certainly noticed. The Dixie Chicks’ fellow musicians and industry peers, in particular, have overwhelmingly acknowledged their contribution. In a year’s time, they have been honored with two Grammy Awards (Best Country Album and Best Country Vocal Performance Duo/Group), two Country Music Association Awards (Group of the Year and the Horizon Award), plus three Academy of Country Music Awards (including Album of the Year), one American Music Award and two TNN Music Awards. On Nashville’s Music Row, where the unspoken business strategy often seems to be “if we can make it work once, we can beat it to death,” the music industry has obviously been taking notes. It’s likely not a coincidence that almost every record label in Nashville has signed a female trio since the Dixie Chicks exploded on to the scene. But clearly what makes this act work is not just that they are a female trio. The difference is this: There simply is no other act in any musical format that sounds like the Dixie Chicks