Ceramic heater & glow plug equipped with same

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A ceramic heater (1) extending in an axial direction to have an elongate shape includes (a) a basal body (11); (b) a lead wire (13a, 13b) embedded in the basal body (11); and (c) a heating element (12) embedded in the basal body (11). This heating element (12) includes (1) a matrix ceramic phase; (2) conductive ceramic particles dispersed in the matrix ceramic phase; (3) a portion in which an end portion of the lead wire (13a, 13b) is embedded; and (4) a reference zone (32, C-region) in terms of concentration of a particular element (e.g., rare-earth element). The heating element (12) may include a condensed zone in terms of concentration of the particular element. The ceramic heater (1) can be free from the condensed zone (30, B-region), or at least its formation is minimized to have a thickness of not greater than 5 mu m. With this, the ceramic heater (1) is improved in bending strength.