A lithography wherein a mask pattern is transferred by using a charged-particle beam, X-ray, or extreme ultraviolet beam with a lithography mask comprising a substrate, having a shape of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, which has a lower surface provided substantially at the center thereof with an opening and a self-supporting membrane having a pattern region substantially at the center of an upper surface thereof corresponding to said opening, wherein said self-supporting membrane is provided with through-holes of said mask pattern in it or an absorber or scatterer of said mask pattern on it, and the pattern region and a peripheral region around the pattern region are in one plane, wherein the lithography mask consists of said substrate and a frame having a shape of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, which are fixed to each other.