The period of Zhenwu's greatest popularity was during the Ming dynasty, under the reign of the Taizu emperor (1368-1398). Early representations of this god feature a tortoise entwined by a snake-symbols representing the north direction in Taoist iconography. Here Zhenwu is shown wearing a court robe with a dragon motif, typical of the mid-Ming dynasty. He is also easy to identify because of his long hair and bare feet.