前人栽树，后人乘凉

Explanation: The benefit of future generations before the man-made metaphor. 　　Usage: Complex sentence; as predicate, the clause; used to benefit the younger generation 　　Source: Zhai Qing Hao, "slang for the popular series Volume sentence": "This kind of bamboo shoots to eat next year; trees planted by earlier generations shade." 　　Examples: As the saying goes :"~。" guarding our ancestral heritage, over a lifetime, and later grandchildren, children and grandchildren of their own blessing. (Qing Yi Suo "Yellow Hydrangea 'first return) Thesaurus:  Forefather Road works Hand down Row