如何在传统文化和西方文明之间找到平衡点，一直是日本乃至所有非西方国家走向近代化时面临的难题。近代日本通过“脱亚入欧”步入了先进资本主义国家阵营，而幕末日本在学习西方文明的过程中表现出过渡性和矛盾性的特征。其中既有来自传统文化的桎梏，也与幕末日本社会和西方文明之间存在文化隔膜有关。涩泽荣一在《航西日记》中对本初子午线和度量单位的使用从侧面反映了幕末日本接纳西方文明过程中的过渡性和矛盾性特征。
Striking a balance between traditional culture and Western civilization has always been a challenge for Japan and other non-Western countries as they embarked on the path to modernization. Modern Japan took the route of “Datsuanyuou” （leaving Asia and joining Europe） to become an advanced capitalist nation，but during the end of the shogunate period，Japan showcased transitional and contradictory characteristics in its encounter with Western civilization. This was influenced by both the constraints of traditional Japanese culture and the cultural barriers between the society of the late shogunate period and Western civilization. The use of the Prime Meridian and measurement units by Shibusawa Eiichi，a vassal of the Tokugawa shogunate，as reflected in Voyage of Journey to the West represents the transitional and contradictory characteristics of Japan’s acceptance of Western civilization during the end of the shogunate period from one perspective.
