A liquid crystal display element of optical writing type, includes: a first transparent substrate (21a); a first transparent electrode layer (22a) formed on the first transparent substrate; a photoconductive layer (23) formed on the first transparent electrode layer; a light absorbing layer (24) formed on the photoconductive layer; a light reflecting layer (25) formed on the light absorbing layer and composed of a macro molecular film of cholesteric liquid crystal; a second transparent substrate (21b); a second transparent electrode layer (22b) formed on the second transparent substrate; and a liquid crystal layer (26) disposed between the second transparent electrode layer and the light reflecting layer.