The origins of real paper started in South East Asia. Like the Egyptians, the Chinese had, nearly fifty centuries ago, invented a style of writing that used images. The Egyptians too had been using many different types of things to scribe on, notably lengths of bamboo and processed silk and it is possible that the barkcloth they were using for other unconnected purposes derived out of the Paper. Mulberry was ased too.
History points to the fact that in 105AD a member of the government by the name of Tsai Lung, developed usable paper, although it seems from archaeological discoveries that it was in fact being used in what is now the People's Republic of China for at least two hundred years prior to Tsai Lung.
Way back in olden times scribing was usually on some form of bamboo or on strips of silk, which were known as Ji then. But the cost of silk and bamboo being heavy, these materials were not convenient. Due to these factors Tsai Lun thought of making use of the bark from trees, rags, fish nets, and hemp. In 105 years after the birth of Christ he submitted a report to the emperor on the production of paper and received many accolades for his abilities. From those days paper has been utilized every place and is known as the "paper of Marquis Tsai".
If this particular claim is deserved, will very likely not ever be known! However, the important factor is that the discovery was made that they could pound certain compounds derived from plants into a grume, expunge unwanted substances, place the grume in water, screen it out onto fabric sheets allowing it to dry. After the drying process was complete, it conglomerated into a firm, tough sheet that was surprisingly light, and provided that it did not come into contact with water, proved decidedly firm.
It's a fact that this extremely simple of papermaking technologies is still being used in precisely the same way within Nepal and Tibet, the first areas to take the techniques from China. A basic frame utilises a cotton cloth stretched over one side, thin mush is emptied in to the far side and spread around until it is smooth. Then it is left suspended somewhere to enable the liquid to leave it and the paste to dry in to a parchment sheet which will be able to be peeled off.
At some stage an extremely clever individual worked out that making a frame with ribs and putting a delicate replaceable bamboo mat across it, would let the procedure to be quickened incredibly. Instead of utilizing one mould for every sheet of parchment, therefore severely restricting the number of sheets that could be made at one time, a stack of sieved mash could be built up a layer at a time, with merely a piece of cotton thread between them to facilitate later separation. The stack would then be pressed slightly, and each sheet of pulp moved to a dry board.