ejb3-persistence spec only says, that @PrimaryKeyJoinColumn gives you the ability to name the corresponding column name different then the referenced column name in the child entity table. So both entities find each other by the referenced column. This column is created as an additional column at the childs table referencing the primary key of the parents table. View the original post : http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=viewtopic&p=4120919#... Reply to the post : http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=posting&mode=reply&a...