The first explicit recommendation of sex aids - as opposed to their age-old use- in China was made by Buddhist monks who urged the use of sex instruments during the reign of Empress Wu Tse-T'ien (A.D. 1685-1704). Historical records show that the imperial physician, Ming Chtung-yen presented the Empress with a sex aid called a "live limb" for her amusement in the royal bedchamber. The device, made of rubber, was brought to the imperial capital by a Buddhist monk from India via Tibet. A full description is found in a Chinese version of one of the Buddhist classics (E. Chou, "The Dragon and the Phoenix") - a nun, having "the need," has a "live limb" manufactured for her use"When it was ready, the nun took it with her into the inner room. She tied the rubber live limb to her ankle and pushed it inside her by bending her knee and moving her foot so that her carnal desire was satisfied."