An active matrix liquid crystal display has a thin film transistor array which includes scanning lines, signal lines, pixel electrodes, and display thin film transistors. This active matrix liquid crystal display includes, around the image region of the thin film transistor array, a scanning line reference potential line, surge protecting circuits for connecting the scanning lines with the scanning line reference potential line, a signal line reference potential line, and surge protecting circuits for connecting the signal lines with the signal line reference potential line. When a surge voltage is applied to the scanning line or signal line, electric charge is let go to the scanning line reference potential line or signal line reference potential line, respectively. Arbitrary reference potentials can be applied to the scanning line reference potential line and signal line reference potential line. The surge protecting circuit includes two two-terminal thin film transistors.