An image coding method for generating a coded bitstream by coding an image, the image coding method characterized by comprising: writing buffer descriptions (BD0 - BDn) into a sequence parameter set included in the coded bitstream, each of the buffer descriptions (BD0 - BDn) includes buffer elements (BEO - BE2), wherein each of the buffer elements (BEO -BE2) (i) is associated with a buffer element index and (ii) specifies a reference picture to be held in a buffer for encoding pictures; constructing a default reference picture list including all the reference pictures that are indicated in the buffer descriptions (BDO - BDn) according to a predetermined constructing scheme; selecting one of the buffer descriptions (BDO - BDn); writing, into a slice header of a current slice included in the coded bitstream, buffer description selecting information for specifying the selected buffer description; modifying at least one of the buffer elements (BEO -BE2) included in the selected buffer description (BDO - BDn) by specifying a reference picture to be associated with the buffer element; writing buffer description updating information into the slice header, wherein the buffer description updating information includes a buffer element index of the buffer element to be modified and a POC difference between the reference picture to be associated with the buffer element and the current slice; reordering reference pictures included in the default reference picture list which corresponds to the selected and modified buffer description to define a first reference picture list; reordering reference pictures included in the default reference picture list which corresponds to the selected and modified buffer description to define a second reference picture list; writing reference list reordering information into the slice header, wherein, in the reordering information, a target reference picture to be reordered is specified by a buffer element index in the selected and modified buffer description; and coding the current slice using the selected and modified buffer description (BD0 - BDn), the first reference picture list and the second reference picture list. writing buffer descriptions (BD0 - BDn) into a sequence parameter set included in the coded bitstream, each of the buffer descriptions (BD0 - BDn) includes buffer elements (BEO - BE2), wherein each of the buffer elements (BEO -BE2) (i) is associated with a buffer element index and (ii) specifies a reference picture to be held in a buffer for encoding pictures; constructing a default reference picture list including all the reference pictures that are indicated in the buffer descriptions (BDO - BDn) according to a predetermined constructing scheme; selecting one of the buffer descriptions (BDO - BDn); writing, into a slice header of a current slice included in the coded bitstream, buffer description selecting information for specifying the selected buffer description; modifying at least one of the buffer elements (BEO -BE2) included in the selected buffer description (BDO - BDn) by specifying a reference picture to be associated with the buffer element; writing buffer description updating information into the slice header, wherein the buffer description updating information includes a buffer element index of the buffer element to be modified and a POC difference between the reference picture to be associated with the buffer element and the current slice; reordering reference pictures included in the default reference picture list which corresponds to the selected and modified buffer description to define a first reference picture list; reordering reference pictures included in the default reference picture list which corresponds to the selected and modified buffer description to define a second reference picture list; writing reference list reordering information into the slice header, wherein, in the reordering information, a target reference picture to be reordered is specified by a buffer element index in the selected and modified buffer description; and coding the current slice using the selected and modified buffer description (BD0 - BDn), the first reference picture list and the second reference picture list.