PURPOSE: To cause uniform orientation of liquid crystal over a large area of a liquid crystal layer by providing a high molecular liquid crystal layer as an orientation layer to between an electrode and the liquid crystal layer.

CONSTITUTION: An orientation layer is formed by providing a specified high molecular liquid crystal layer 8 to between ITO electrodes 3, 4 on transparent glass substrates 1, 2 and a liquid crystal layer 9. The orientation layer is capable of orienting liquid crystal uniaxially by rubbing. Chiral smectic liquid crystals are used for the liquid crystals 9. The orientation layer may be formed as a successively laminated body of an inorg. oxide film or an org. high molecular film formed by oblique deposition or by rubbing, and thin films comprising high molecular liquid crystals and the high molecular liquid crystal layer may be oriented by the effect of an adjacent inorg. oxide film or org. high molecular film. By this constitution, uniform orientation over a large area of a liquid crystal layer is realized, and a liquid crystal element having a large contrast ratio during driving, and stable storage characteristic is obtd.