The origins of true paper happened in South East Asia. Similar to the Egyptians, the Chinese had, almost 5000 years ago, invented a style of pictographic writing. They too had been using several types of objects to scribe upon, most notably lengths of bamboo and woven silk and it is possible that the barkcloth they were using for other uses derived from the Paper. Mulberry was also used.
Legend points to the fact that in 105 years after the birth of Christ a member of the government called Tsai Lung, brought out papyrus, though it is almost certain from finds by archaeologists that actually it was in existence in China for probably two centuries before him.
Back in times gone by setting down words was generally on some form of bamboo or occasionally on pieces of silk, which were then called ji. Nonetheless the great price of silk and bamboo being very weighty, these materials were not convenient. About this time Tsai Lun came up with the idea of making use of bark from trees, fish nets, hemp, and rags. In 105AD he submitted a report to the emperor regarding the process of paper manufacture and received many accolades for his ability. Since that time paper has been utilized every place and is called the "paper of Marquis Tsai".
If this historical reference is relevant or not, will likely never be uncovered! But what is important is that they found that they could grind certain substances taken from plant material in to a mash, bstract impure materials, place the mash in liquid, filter it onto fabric sheets and allow it to dry. After the drying process was complete, it compressed into a hard, firm sheet that turned out to be particularly light, and provided that it was not allowed to come into contact with water, proved decidedly tough.
It's a fact that this extremely simple of paper making techniques is even now in use in exactly a similar way around Nepal and Tibet, the first countries to pick up the techniques from what is now the People's Republic of China. A basic frame has a type of cotton cloth pulled and held over one side, very watery paste is poured into the other side and moved around until it has become even. Then it is left so that it will let the water to leave it and the mache to dry in to a paper sheet which may be removed by stripping off.
At some stage a developer with great skills realized that building a frame with ribs and putting in place a fine bamboo mat that is replaceable across it, would enable the paper-making procedure to be accelerated greatly. Rather than tying up one mold for each parchment sheet, consequently severely restricting the number of sheets that may be made at the same time, a stack of sieved grume was able to be built up a layer at a time, with only a strip of cotton thread between them to facilitate separation at a later time. The stack would then be pressed slightly, and every layer of mush transferred to a dry board.