 the priming period. Also, a preferable mode is one wherein, the pulse having the erasing pulse and being applied to the scanning electrode has a first priming period, second priming period, address period, and sustaining period, and wherein the erasing pulse is fed during the first priming period and is made up of a priming pulse which causes a maximum potential difference between the scanning electrode and the sustaining electrode being adjacent to each other to reach at least a priming voltage in order to cause priming discharge to occur during the second priming period and of a second erasing pulse used to reduce wall charges on the scanning electrode and sustaining electrode being adjacent to each other caused by the priming discharge. Also, a preferable mode is one wherein