Video image decoding method, video image encoding method, video image decoding apparatus, and video image encoding apparatus

Provided is a video image decoding method, wherein a reference list suited for hierarchy encoding structure is created efficiently, in a manner in which consumption of bits within a picture header is inhibited, and calculation will not become complicated. The video image decoding method is a method for decoding an encoded video image stream that is the result of encoding a video image using motion prediction, and the method analyzes a first parameter indicating a time level from the header of an encoded picture, creates a reference list for decoding the picture to be decoded according to a hierarchy reference-list creating method that utilizes the time level, and executes motion prediction of a block composed of a plurality of samples within the picture to be decoded, using the reference list.