PURPOSE: To provide the driving device of electric field discharge cathode capable of driving the image display device at a high speed without generating leakage of emitted light.

CONSTITUTION: At the driving device for driving the image display device by scanning a number of gate electrodes G1 to Gm and cathode electrodes K1 to Kn arranged in a matrix form, with the front edge part of a drive pulse for driving cathode electrodes K1, K2, K3, to Kn in sequence as a period of time τ for precharging the cathode electrodes K1 to Kn, a precharge pulse of a Vch level not discharging electrons from an emitter array is impressed. During this precharging period τ, blanking is operated for the gate electrodes G1 to Gm by a blanking pulse BNK. Thus, as the respective cathode electrodes K1 to Kn are driven after precharged, the cathode electrodes K1 to Kn are driven at a high speed. The leakage of emitted light is prevented, as well.