The idiom "Que Chao Jiu Zhan" (鹊巢鸠占) originates from "The Classic of Poetry" (Shijing), one of China's earliest collections of poems. It is found in the poem "Zhao Nan: Que Chao" (Magpie's Nest), which describes: "The magpie builds its nest, but the dove dwells in it; when the maiden marries and comes to her new home, a hundred chariots accompany her."

Originally, the phrase symbolized a woman marrying into a new family and settling down in her husband's home, signifying her establishment in a new place. The poem was actually a commendation for a bride, likening her graceful acceptance of a new home to a dove finding a ready-made nest.

Over time, however, the meaning of the idiom evolved. It came to be used in a negative sense, metaphorically referring to someone who forcibly takes over or wrongfully occupies another person's dwelling, property, or position, implying an act of usurpation or unjust seizure.