The history of true paper started in South East Asia. Similar to the Egyptians, the Chinese had, nearly 50 centuries in the past, invented a pictographic style of writing. They too had been using many different kinds of things to write upon, most commonly strips of bamboo and woven silk and it is possible that the barkcloth they made for other unconnected purposes derived from the Paper. Mulberry was made use of also.
Legend points to the fact that in 105 years after the birth of Christ a member of the government by the name of Tsai Lung, developed papyrus, although it is almost certain from finds by archaeologists that in fact it was being used in what is now the People's Republic of China for at least two centuries before him.
Back during ancient times gone by writing was generally on some form of bamboo or on pieces of silk, which were then called ji. Nevertheless the great price of silk and bamboo being too weighty, these materials were not convenient. About this time Tsai Lun thought of making use of the bark from trees, rags, hemp, and fish nets. In 105AD he put an idea to the emperor with regard to the production of paper and got high praise for his idea. Since then paper has been in use universally and is known as the "paper of Marquis Tsai".
If this title is relevant or not, will likely never be uncovered! Nonetheless the major factor must be that the discovery was made that if they ground certain compounds derived from plant matter into a mash, discard impure materials, put the mash in water, filter it onto cloth sheets giving it enough time to dry out. When it dried, it consolidated into a firm, robust sheet that was extremely light, and provided that it did not get wet, proved particularly durable.
This easiest of papermaking technologies is still being used in exactly a similar way within Tibet and Nepal, the first countries to learn the techniques from China. A simple frame utilizes a type of cotton cloth pulled and held over a single side, thin pulp is situated in to the other side and moved around until it has reached an even state. After which it is left hanging so that it will allow the liquid to drain out of it and the mache to dry in to a paper sheet which can be peeled off.
Eventually a very clever individual came to the conclusion that manufacturing a frame with an arrangement of ribbing and placing a fine bamboo mat that is removable over it, would enable the paper-making process to be quickened fantastically. Instead of tying up one mould for every parchment sheet, consequently severely restricting the amount of sheets that may be manufactured at the same time, a stack of sieved grume could be built up layer upon layer, with merely a length of cotton thread between them which would enable separation at a later time. The stack would then be squeezed very lightly, and each layer of paste shifted to a dry place.