PURPOSE: To permit control of orientation by constituting a liquid crystal electrooptic device wherein ferroelectric smectic liquid crystals as a constituting element are constituted of liquid crystals or liquid crystal compsns. forming smectic A phase at a region of higher temp. of a chiral smectic phase.

CONSTITUTION: In the smectic A phase, major axes of molecules are oriented in one direction within one domain. If a chiral smectic C phase is present in the lower temp. region, the spiral axis 1 of the chiral smectic C phase coincides with the direction of the major axis of the molecule of the smectic A phase. Accordingly, if a uniform orientation is caused in the smectic phase, spiral axes 1 of the chiral smectic phase C below the smectic phase are oriented in one direction, so the contrast of an electrooptic device provided with a chiral smectic C phase is improved.