A polarizing plate having a desired extinction ratio in a visible light region and light resistance against intense light, and a liquid crystal projector using the above polarizing plate are provided. A polarizing element includes a substrate transparent to visible light, and inorganic particle layers in each of which inorganic particles are linearly disposed, the inorganic particle layers being disposed on the substrate at predetermined intervals to form a wire grid structure, the inorganic particles each have an elliptical shape having a major axis of the inorganic particles in the disposed direction and minor axis in a direction perpendicular thereto.