One field is formed of a plurality of sub-fields, and each one of the sub-fields includes an initializing period, addressing period, and sustained period. The sub-field is one of an entire-cell initialization sub-field or a selective-cell initialization sub-field. When the entire initialization sub-field is switched to the selective one or vice versa, an initializing voltage which generates initializing discharge in the entire initialization sub-field is controlled. This control allows varying the number of the entire initializations and stabilizing address discharge in a plasma display panel, and at the same time, making the black luminance inconspicuous for improving the picture quality.