A liquid crystal panel includes a glass substrate with pixel electrodes that are arranged in a matrix shape, TFTs that are connected to the pixel electrodes, and a glass substrate with an opposing electrode and color filters that are arranged in a matrix shape. A liquid crystal layer is formed in a space between the glass substrates by filling a ferroelectric liquid crystal into the space. When writing display data, and when deleting display data that has been written, a voltage, not including 0V, that becomes a voltage potential, or in other words, a voltage that is greater than a threshold voltage at which the optical characteristic of the filled ferroelectric liquid crystal changes is applied between the opposing electrode and pixel electrodes. An image is displayed over all gradation numbers, including the low-gradation side, and the display characteristic is improved.