The history of true paper began in South East Asia. Like the Egyptians, the Chinese had, virtually 50 centuries ago, created a style of writing that used images. The Egyptians also had been using many different objects to scribe on, most usually strips of bamboo and processed silk and it is possible that the barkcloth they made for other reasons derived from the Paper. Mulberry was made use of too.
History tells us that in 105AD a member of the government going by the name of Tsai Lung, invented paper, although it appears from archaeological discoveries that it was in fact in existence in what is now the People's Republic of China for more than likely two centuries before him.
During ancient times gone by writing was usually on bamboo or on lengths of silk, which were known as Ji then. Nonetheless the cost of silk and the weight of bamboo, these materials were inconvenient. Due to these factors Tsai Lun came up with the idea of utilizing bark from trees, fish nets, hemp, and rags. In 105 years after the birth of Christ he submitted a report to the emperor about the process of making paper and received much praise for his abilities. Consequently, since then paper has been in use every place and is known as the "paper of Marquis Tsai".
If indeed this accolade is Tsai's entitlement or not, will likely never be known! But the major factor is that it was discovered that they could grind certain substances taken from plant material into a mush, evacuate impure materials, place the mush in liquid, filter it onto cloth sheets and give it time to dry out. When fully dried, it congealed into a hard, tough sheet that was astonishingly light, and providing it did not get damp or wet, proved really tenacious.
It's a fact that this very simple of papermaking technologies is even now in use in exactly the same way within Tibet and Nepal, the initial places to take the techniques from China. A simple frame utilizes a type of cotton cloth stretched over one side, diluted grume is put in to the other end and moved around until it has reached a level. After which it is left hanging somewhere to allow the water to leave it and the paste to dry in to a parchment sheet which will be able to be removed.
There came a time when a developer with great skills realized that building a frame with ribs and putting a fine bamboo mat that is replaceable across this, would let the process to be accelerated fantastically. Instead of tying up one mould for each sheet of paper, severely limiting the amount of sheets that could be made at the same time, a stack of sieved mache could be built up layer upon layer, with only a piece of cotton thread between them which would facilitate later separation. The stack would then be pressed very slightly, and every sheet of pulp transferred to a dry place.