An R—Fe—B based anisotropic sintered magnet according to the present invention has, as a main phase, an R2Fe14B type compound that includes a light rare-earth element RL (which is at least one of Nd and Pr) as a major rare-earth element R, and also has a heavy rare-earth element RH (which is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Dy and Tb). In the crystal lattice of the main phase, the c-axis is oriented in a predetermined direction. The magnet includes a portion in which at least two peaks of diffraction are observed within a 2θ range of 60.5 degrees to 61.5 degrees when an X-ray diffraction measurement is carried out using a CuK α ray on a plane that is located at a depth of 500 μm or less under a pole face of the magnet and that is parallel to the pole face.