Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for producing a silicon nitride sintered material, the method including heating a molded article, which contains a silicon nitride powder having a ? phase ratio of 80% or more, a dissolved oxygen content of 0.2% by mass or less, and a specific surface area of 5 to 20 m2/g, and a sintering auxiliary containing a compound having no oxygen bond, and which has an overall oxygen content controlled to be 1 to 15% by mass and an aluminum element overall content controlled to be 800 ppm or less, to a temperature of 1,200 to 1,800° C. in an inert gas atmosphere under a pressure of 0 MPa·G or more and less than 0.1 MPa·G to sinter the silicon nitride.