It refers to pain in the upper abdomen (beneath the xiphoid process). It is usually caused by invasion of cold heat and improper diet; insufficiency of yin, yang, qi and blood; qi stagnation and blood stasis that lead to failure of stomach qi to descend normally. It is the commonly encountered symptom of stomach disease and also can be seen in diseases of bowels, pancreas, gallbladder, liver and spleen. Sometimes it is even seen in precordial pain.