The origins of real paper started in what is now the People's Republic of China. Similar to the indigenous people of Egypt, the Chinese had, virtually 5000 years ago, brought out a pictographic style of writing. They also had been utilizing various kinds of things to scribe on, usually strips of bamboo and woven silk and it is possible that the barkcloth they were making for other unconnected purposes from the Paper. Mulberry was made use of as well.
History tells us that in 105 years after the birth of Christ an official by the name of Tsai Lung, created papyrus, although it is clear from archaeological discoveries that it was in fact being used in South East Asia for more than likely two hundred years before Tsai Lung.
Way back during ancient times setting down words was generally done on some derivative of bamboo or on pieces of silk, which were known as Ji in those days. Nevertheless the cost of silk and bamboo being too heavy, these materials were not convenient. Due to these factors Tsai Lun came up with the idea of making use of bark, fish nets, hemp, and rags. In 105AD he submitted a report to the emperor about the production of paper and was endowed with high accolade for his inventions. From this time paper has been in use every place and is known as the "paper of Marquis Tsai".
Whether this accolade is Marquis Tsai's entitlement, will very likely never be known! However, the most important factor is that the discovery was made that if they pounded some plant derived substances into a grume, expunge spume, float the grume in liquid, filter it out onto textile sheets allowing it to dry. After drying, it dried into a firm, resilient sheet that turned out to be extremely light, and providing it did not get wet, proved exceedingly tenacious.
It's a fact that this extremely simple of paper making techniques is even now still being used in exactly a similar way in Tibet and Nepal, the first areas to pick up the craft from China. A simple frame utilises a cotton cloth stretched over one side, very watery mash is situated in to the far end and spread about until it has reached an even state. After which it is left suspended so that it will allow the water to drain out of it and the mush to dry in to a sheet of parchment which may be peeled off.
At some stage a very clever individual realized that making a frame with ribs and placing a fine bamboo mat that is removable over this, would let the procedure to be quickened to a great degree. Rather than utilizing one mould for each sheet of paper, consequently severely restricting the number of sheets that can be made at one time, a stack of sieved pulp could be built up layer upon layer, with merely a length of cotton thread between them in order to enable separation at a later time. The stack would then be pressed lightly, and every layer of paste moved to a board to dry.