PURPOSE: To provide a device and method for displaying the reference relation information of the electronic document which can display an electronic document relating to an aimed electronic document neither too much nor too little without requiring time.

CONSTITUTION: This device consists of a reference relation information input means 50 which inputs information of reference relation between electronic documents, a stored reference relation information storage means 51, a display mode input means which inputs a display mode for the reference relation information in selected display mode, a stored display mode storage means 53, an aimed document selecting means 54 for selecting the aimed electronic document, and aimed document reference relation instructing means 55 which instructs to clarify the reference relation on the selected electronic document, and a reference relation display means 56 which displays the reference relation information in the selected display mode as an electronic document in the reference relation on the basis of the instruction to clarify the reference relation specification.