  We give a comprehensive review of concepts and numerical calculations for
SU(2) and SU(3) baryonic systems which are considered as many body systems
composed of three quarks coupled to a polarized Dirac sea by a
Nambu--Jona-Lasinio like interaction. The general formalism as well as the
construction and numerical solution of non-topological mean field solitons are
exhibited. Systems with good spin/flavour/isospin/momentum quantum numbers are
obtained by using the SU(2)/SU(3)-cranking and the pushing approach. The
article contains also recent results for various extensions of the model, e.g.
vector and axialvector couplings or the inclusion of scale invariance.
Furthermore the relationship of this approach to topological models (Skyrme
type) as well as to (valence-)quark-meson models (Gell-Mann--Levi chiral sigma
model) is explained. (to be publ. in Rep.Prog.Phys.)
