The answer is painting, calligraphy and poetry.
Scholars were the practitioners of Scholasticism, a method of learning which involves critical thought. It developed in Europe from 1100 to 1700s approximately.
Scholars considered painting calligraphy and poetry, taken from the Tang (618–907) and Ming (1368–1644) dynasties, as the three perfections. They explored the interconnection of these three in their artworks and used them as a means to express themselves.
These form of art were highly estimated, especially calligraphy since it revealed a person's nature or character, regardless of the meaning of the written words.
