A state of combustion in a combustion chamber is controlled by stratifying an intake gas charge within the combustion chamber, so as to reduce amounts of harmful substances left in exhaust gas. A direct-injection type internal combustion engine in which a fuel is injected into the combustion chamber and which is arranged to stratify the intake gas charge within the combustion chamber (1) such that intake gases of different compositions exist in a central portion (13) of the combustion chamber including a position of the fuel injection, and in a peripheral portion of the combustion chamber, upon initiation of combustion of the fuel at a point of time near a terminal period of a compression stroke. The intake gases of different compositions may be intake gases having different concentrations of a specific component such as recirculated exhaust gas and the fuel.