A liquid crystal display device has a fluorescent lamp and a driving circuit
as
a back light. A closed container, a discharge gas sealed in the closed container,
first discharge electrodes, and second discharge electrodes are included in the
fluorescent lamp. The driving circuit repeats a first step of causing electric
discharge in first discharge areas by applying a voltage having a negative polarity
to the first discharge electrodes and a voltage having a positive polarity to the
second discharge electrodes, and a second step of causing electric discharge in
second discharge areas which are different from the first discharge areas by applying
a voltage having a positive polarity to the first discharge electrodes and a voltage
having a negative polarity to the second discharge electrodes.
