Liquid crystal element and liquid crystal apparatus using the same

A ferroelectric liquid crystal element comprises a ferroelectric liquid crystal and a pair of substantially parallel substrates having opposite surfaces between which the ferroelectric liquid crystal is sealed. The substrates are provided with electrodes to which voltages are applied, and are subjected to one axis orientation treatment so as to orient the ferroelectric liquid crystal. The ferroelectric liquid crystal has an orientation state represented by the following condition. ϑ < α + δ wherein α is a pretilt angle of the ferroelectric liquid crystal, ϑ is a tilt angle, and δ is an inclination angle of an Sm*C layer. The ferroelectric liquid crystal exhibits at least two stable states in orientation. An angle ϑa, half the angle between optical axes of these two stable states, and the tilt angle ϑ of the ferroelectric liquid crystal satisfy the condition ϑ > ϑa > ϑ/2.