PURPOSE: To provide the ferroelectric liquid crystal element suitable for gradation control.

CONSTITUTION: This ferroelectric liquid crystal element is constituted by forming an adsorption layer 52 of an org. silane compd. on a liquid crystal oriented layer 51, then partially selectively irradiating the adsorption layer with energy rays 53 via a mask 57 to remove the org. silane compd. of the parts 54 to be irradiated or to change its properties, thereby partially providing the deposited layers of the org. silane compd. of ≥100 film thickness within respective picture elements. The gradation display element which exhibits a good gradation characteristic and has a high grade with decreased variations in the gradation characteristics between the respective picture elements in the case of gradation driving of the element by changing the pulse width or crest value of the pulse signals to be impressed to the element is obtd.