We propose a new theoretical approach to ground and low-energy excited states of nuclei extending the nuclear mean-field theory. It consists of three steps: stochastic preparation of many Slater determinants, the parity and angular momentum projection, and diagonalization of the generalized eigenvalue problems. The Slater determinants are constructed in the three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate representation capable of describing arbitrary shape of nuclei. We examine feasibility and usefulness of the method by applying the method with the BKN interaction to light 4N-nuclei, 12C, 16O, and 20Ne. We discuss difficulties of keeping linear independence for basis states projected on good parity and angular momentum and present a possible prescription.