A projector with a specially manufactured optical compensation element is disclosed. One method of manufacturing the optical compensation element temporarily attaches an inorganic substrate made of a birefringent inorganic material to a base member with a temporary bond, grinds/polishes the inorganic substrate, attaches a light transmissive support substrate to a surface of the inorganic substrate on the opposite side to the side of the base member, and separates the inorganic substrate with the light transmissive support substrate from the base member.