Phuket’s Chinese Kitchen: space of identity and wisdom

Abstract

Chinese kitchens in Phuket illustrate an interesting cultural identity of hybrid Chinese, which was the motivation behind this study examining kitchen patterns in relation to culture, identity and wisdom of the people on the site. The sample in this research was comprised of eight residences in the old towns of the Mueang and Kathu districts in Phuket Province. All of the kitchens shared similar patterns, composition and cooking spaces. When analyzed by cultural, social and belief dimensions in the frame of wisdom and identity, the Chinese kitchens, which are separated areas from the residential space, are enclosed spaces with specific characteristics including breeziness (Chim Jae) and all had a sink, stove and shelf for the fire spirit, which is related to the wisdom of air, water and fire management. The space serves three principal functions which are food preparation and storage,