PURPOSE: To provide a method of manufacturing a lightweight thin film EL element in which a water repellent layer formed by sintering silicone oil may exhibit a satisfactory water-tight effect, and in particular, which may avoid image distortion even though a transmission type element is manufactured in this method.

CONSTITUTION: A laminate 10 composed of a first electrode layer 11, a first insulating layer 12, a first insulating layer 12, a luminescence layer 13, a second insulating layer 14 and a second electrode layer 15 is formed on a first transparent glass substrate 1. The laminate 10 is covered thereover with a covering layer 16 made of SiO2. Silicon oil is applied over the laminate 10 and is then sintered so as to form a water repellent layer 17.