An ion generating element (10) has at least one first discharger (12) for generating positive ions and at least one second discharger (13) for generating negative ions, both fitted or printed on a single dielectric member (11). The first and second dischargers (12) and (13) are each composed of a pair of a first or second discharging electrode (12a) or (13a), respectively, formed on the surface of the dielectric member (11) and a first or second induction electrode (12b) or (13b), respectively, buried in the dielectric member (11), and are arranged both on the same flat surface of the dielectric member (11) but separately from and independently of each other. This construction helps to alleviate the neutralization among the generated ions themselves, thus to effectively release both positive and negative ions, and thereby to enhance the ion generation efficiency.