Abstract: A sintered body of silicon nitride base solidly formed of interior and surface portions wherein the rate of decrease of the content Si or Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 and Sialon grains in the surface portion, with respect to that in the interior portion, is not less than 20% by weight or 30-100 vol %, respectively. The grain boundary phase of the surface portion is glassy, or crystallized partly or entirely. Crystallized boundary phase comprises Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 -Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 base compounds Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 -nY.sub.2 O.sub.3 -mX (n=1-5, X=SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, m=0-4) such as mellilite, J phase (mohlerite), K phase (wollastonite), H phase (apatite), or A phase (Si.sub.3 N.sub.4.5Y.sub.2 O.sub.3.Al.sub.2 O.sub.3). Sintering aids of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, AlN, MgO, CaO, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 and/or rare earth oxides form boundary phases.