Referring to FIG. 5, a predetermined coding unit from among the odd number of third coding units 520b, 520c, and 520d determined by splitting the non-square second coding unit 510 (e.g., a coding unit or a square coding unit, which is located at a center location) may be recursively split. According to an embodiment, the square third coding unit 520c from among the odd number of third coding units 520b, 520c, and 520d may be split in a horizontal direction into a plurality of fourth coding units. A non-square fourth coding unit 530b or 530d from among a plurality of fourth coding units 530a, 530b, 530c, and 530d may be split into a plurality of coding units again. For example, the non-square fourth coding unit 530b or 530d may be split into the odd number of coding units again. A method that may be used to recursively split a coding unit will be described below in relation to various embodiments.
