To provide a projection type image display device using a reflection type liquid crystal display element which is suitable to a projection type image display device using a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) display element and a color wheel and can increase the contrast of a projection image and make the device small-sized and low-priced by prescribing the position relation between a polarization beam splitter and the reflection type liquid crystal display element.

This device makes the illumination light from a light source 1 incident on a rectangular FLC element 3 through PBS 2, modulates the light by the FLC element 3, and projects it by a projection lens through PBS2. An afocal part 4, an integrator part 5, a polarized light converting element 6, condenser lenses 18 and 20, and a bending mirror 19 are arranged between the light source part 1 and PBS2. This device is so constituted that the plane containing the optical axis of the illumination light impinging on PBS2 and the optical axis of the illumination light projected by PBS2 on the projection lens is nearly parallel to the direction wherein the short side of the FLC element 3 extends.