Jīnéng 機能, zì Tiānzé 天則 (“Heaven-Norm”), biéhào Jìngshàn 淨善; often referred to as Yílín Tiānzé 宜林天則 or Yǔqí Tiānzé 語崎天則 from his abbacy and his hermitage. LínjìYángqí 33rd-generation dharma-heir of Shānduó Zhēnzài 真在 (1621–1672). Born 明萬曆戊午 9/26 午時 = 1618-11-12 Gregorian; death year unknown — was 60 in 康熙丁巳 = 1677 at the time of the yǔlù preface. Native of Huánggāng 黃岡 (Húběi); lay surname Kāng 康.
Formation. Tonsured at Ānguósì 安國寺; studied Mahāyāna scriptures and concluded that the matter of Chán “is not in words and texts.” Took full ordination at Xìngyán 杏嵒. First sought instruction at Jīnlíng Tiānjièsì 金陵天界寺, where the abbot Shèng 盛 (Juélàng Dàoshèng?) gave him the kōan “三不是” — partial breakthrough. Continued cān at Tiāntóng and under Yúnmén chánshī 雲門禪師; received deep guidance from Shānwēng Mǐn 山翁忞 at Dàochǎngshān 道場山, who appointed him shǒuzhòng. After unrest forced him to leave, returned to Yíshuǐ 義水 (Húběi) and built a hermitage at Yǔqíshān 語崎山. Final fùfǎ under Shānduó Zhēnzài in 康熙乙巳秋 = 1665 autumn.
Abbacy. Yíshuǐ Yílínsì 義水宜林寺.
Disciples. Méichè Xùmí 梅徹續禰 (variant 續彌, 續彌).
Work. KR6q0536 《天則能禪師語錄》 1 juan, J38 B417, recorded by his attendants Dàochóng 道崇 and Xùmí 續彌 tóng lù; with prefaces by lay disciple Luó Kāilín 羅開驎 and dharma-elder-cousin Shíyuán Jīyún 機雲 (preface dated 康熙十七季歲次丁巳陽月 = 1677 lunar 10).
Sources. 《五燈全書》 vol. 102, vol. 108; 《天則能禪師語錄》 vol. 1 〈行略〉.