The origins of proper paper started in South East Asia. Similar to the Egyptians, the Chinese had, nearly 50 centuries ago, invented a type of writing that used images. They also had been making use of various objects to write on, most usually pieces of bamboo and silk woven into a fine fabric and it is possible that the barkcloth they were making for other purposes from the Paper. Mulberry was made use of also.
Historical documentation tells us that in 105 years after the birth of Christ a member of the government going by the name of Tsai Lung, developed usable paper, although it is clear from finds by archaeologists that in fact it was in existence in China for more than likely two centuries prior to Tsai Lung.
Way back during olden times setting down words was generally done on some derivative of bamboo or on strips of silk, which were then called ji. Nevertheless the soaring cost of silk and the weight of bamboo, these materials were not convenient. Then Tsai Lun thought of using the bark from trees, rags, fish nets, and hemp. In 105AD he submitted a report to the emperor with regard to the process of making paper and received high praise for his inventions. Since those distant days paper has been used everywhere and is known as the "paper of Marquis Tsai".
If indeed this accolade is deserved or not, will probably never be uncovered! However, the most important thing is that the discovery was made that they could pound particular substances derived from plants in to a mash, cut out spume, put the mash in water, sieve it out onto textile sheets and allow it to dry. When it dried, it conglomerated into a hard, tough sheet that turned out to be incredibly light, and provided that it was not allowed to get damp, proved astonishingly firm.
It's a fact that this very simple of papermaking techniques is still being used in exactly a similar way within Nepal and Tibet, the initial countries to take the craft from what is now the People's Republic of China. A basic frame makes use of a cloth manufactured from cotton pulled and held over one side, watery mush is poured into the other side and moved around until it is level. It is then left hanging in order for it to allow the liquid to leave it and the mache to dry into a parchment sheet which may be removed by stripping off.
At some point in time an extremely talented developer came to realize that building a frame with an arrangement of ribbing and putting a fine removable bamboo mat across this, would enable the paper-making process to be quickened incredibly. Instead of tying up one mould for every sheet of parchment, therefore severely restricting the number of sheets that may be produced at the same time, a stack of sieved paste was able to be built up layer upon layer, with merely a piece of cotton thread between them to enable separation at a later time. The stack would then be squeezed gently, and each sheet of grume shifted to a dry board.