Provided are a material for liquid crystal alignment capable of giving a liquid-crystal alignment layer which exhibits high voltage holding characteristics even under high temperature conditions and little suffers from charge-up; and liquid crystal displays which little cause lowering in contrast and image persistence, that is, a material for liquid crystal alignment containing a polyamic acid obtained by reacting (polymerizing) a tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride component with a diamine component and/or a polyimide prepared from the polyamic acid through dehydrocyclization, characterized in that at least part of the tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride component is a tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride having an alicyclic or aliphatic structure and at least part of the diamine component is a diamine represented by the general formula (1) shown in the description: (1) (wherein two of R<1> to R<10> are each independently primary amino and the others thereof are each independently hydrogen or a monovalent organic group other than primary amino); and liquid crystal displays having liquid-crystal alignment layers made from the material.